**2. Geographical distribution of mulberry**

Worldwide appreciable availability of any biological resource is extremely important from its exploitation point of view especially for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Presently, Mulberry is distributed in all regions between 500 N Lat. and 100 S Lat., and from sea level to 4000 m altitudes [18, 19], including Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa (**Figure 2**). American continent has four mulberry species (*M. insignis, M. celtidifolia, M. corylifolia*, and *M.mexicana*). In India, four mulberry species are reported; among them *M. alba* and *M. indica* are domesticated whereas *M. serrata* and *M. laevigata* grow wildly in the Himalayan territory [1]. China has 24 species but only four species has been spotted for its massive exploitation in sericulture (*M. alba, M. multicaulis, M.atropurpurea*, and *M. mizuho*).

#### **Figure 2.** *Geographical distribution of mulberry along with zone wise available species.*

Only *M. alba, M. bombycis*, and *M. latifoila* are in use in Japan though presence of 19 species has been recorded there. In Africa, presence of *M. mesozygia* has been reported from humid, sub-humid, and semi-arid areas [20].
