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VOL. 8, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Intercropping UV-C lamp -treated Narcissus tazetta L. bulbs with mulberry field and its impacts on production of bulbs, flowers, mulberry trees, and the economical characters of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.
Authors
Usama M Ghazy, Tahia A Fouad, Eman A Elkamshoush, Alaa El deen Shaheen, Basem A Allam, Taghreed E Eissa
Abstract
Field experiments in mulberry fields estimated the effect of pre-planting UV-C lamp irradiation on Narcissus tazetta bulbs intercropped with mulberry trees. The study examined plant growth, flowering, bulb productivity, postharvest performance, and compatibility with mulberry and silkworm productivity over two growing seasons. Ten treatments were applied; UV-C lamp exposures of 1, 2, or 3 hrs. Applied as one, two, or three consecutive daily doses. UV-C lamp irradiation significantly improved most vegetative, floral, bulb, and postharvest characteristics, pre-planting UV-C irradiation for 2 hrs per day over three consecutive days produced the greatest improvements in plant performance and markedly enhanced the accumulation of amino acids and phenolic compounds. Molecular characterization revealed clear UV-C-induced genetic variability in N. tazetta. The highest genetic similarity was observed between the control and low-intensity treatment. All irradiation intercropped plants on mulberry trees did not show any adverse effect on mulberry characters i.e. number of shoots/tree, number of leaves/shoot, weight of leaf and leaf yield/tree. Also, moisture content, N, P, K, and manganese contents in tested mulberry leaves, most of the silkworm characters showed non-significant differences between intercrops treatments and sole mulberry plant for biological and economic characters as weight of full cocoon, cocoon shell, pupa, and adult weight, also cocoon sell ratio and silk productivity for females and males. These findings indicate that pre-planting UV-C lamp irradiation effectively enhances the growth and biochemical composition of N. tazetta, without negatively impacting mulberry or silkworm productivity. This method promotes land-use efficiency and boosts economic returns in integrated mulberry sericulture systems.
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Pages:82-97
How to cite this article:
Usama M Ghazy, Tahia A Fouad, Eman A Elkamshoush, Alaa El deen Shaheen, Basem A Allam, Taghreed E Eissa "Intercropping UV-C lamp -treated Narcissus tazetta L. bulbs with mulberry field and its impacts on production of bulbs, flowers, mulberry trees, and the economical characters of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.". International Journal of Agriculture and Plant Science, Vol 8, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 82-97
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