Usage

All parts of mulberries have been recognized for the human pharmacological potential since 700 A.D. (Chinese medicine, Pliny, Hildegard of Bingen) and have been the subject of numerous studies over the last decade. Antioxidative, neuroprotective, immune-stimulatory, anti-glycaemic and anti-cancerous effects of all parts have been proven. Mulberry leaves and fruits are today recognized as supernutrients. The nutritive composition of leaves already demonstrates potential as a feed additive in animal nutrition, especially for pigs, sheep and poultry (Latin America, Thailand, India, Spain). Mulberry also demonstrates the potential for intensive forage production in form of silvopastural systems, alley crops, live fences, and fodder banks. The leaves are also used to prepare tea, spirits. Modern varieties give the potential of fruit processing (jam, liqueur, brandy, vinegar, dried fruits). Fruits of dark genotypes, which have a strong staining activity, are used as dyes in food and textile industries, white genotypes as sweetener.

The wood is very solid and durable. It can be used in civil engineering, casks making and joinery. Due to its acoustic properties, it is appreciated material for producing musical instruments. Bark fibres were traditionally used for paper production (native Americans since 300 BC, Chinese) and textiles. The recognized good physical properties of cellulose fibres open up the possibility to use mulberry braches as by-/waste product of sericulture as inexpensive source of natural fibres as well for advanced technical applications. The first attempts to use mulberry bark for textile fibre in Italy trace back to 19. century. Today, a small plant in Porcia di Pordenone, is preparing fibre out of mulberry bark, called gelsofil (Sfiligoj-Smole et al. 2019).

The project “Taking a Creative Path Towards Knowledge” 2016/2017 (PSDDMF_RS, MESS_RS, European Social Fund) has opened up permanent possibilities for using mulberries and for re-integration of sericulture. We have established cooperation with experts from Italy, Hungary, Austria and Croatia and owners of historical mulberries in Slovenia and Hungary. Historical mulberries were tested for the silk production with the European genetic lines of silkworms that were used in the past. Furthermore, we performed a pilot experiment by distributing a small number of silkworms in the 2nd larval stage to the interested owners of historical mulberries in SI (Fabiani’s mulberry, Školj, Kobjeglava, Krog, Goričko, Ptujsko polje, Litija) and HU (Pest, Vezsprém, Tolna). By analysing the cocoons and silk rope, we confirmed the ability to produce silk of the highest quality based on the existing genetic sources of mulberries. In the light of the local interest and the increased demand of European silk, a private research institute (non-profit institution, Institute of Sericulture and Silk Processing) was established in 2018 aimed at disassembling the sericulture, providing healthy genetic source of silkworms and mulberries and establishing a link between rearers and silk processors. The widespread use of mulberries demonstrates the need for further agronomic research and the development of conditions for the restoration of moriculture and associated sericulture in Slovenia.