Improvement of white mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) I. Variation, estimates of genetic parameters and correlation in different accessions

Abstract

Magnitude of variability among various traits alongwith their inter-relationship were investigated in 32 genotypes of Morus alba. Moderate to high genetic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability and genetic gain were noticed for leaf yield, shoot height, shoot diameter and number of leaves indicating that these characters can be reliable for effecting selection in future. Shoot height showed significant and positive correlation with shoot diameter, internodal length, number of leaves, leaf width and leaf yield. Shoot diameter exhibited positive association with internodal length and number of leaves with leaf yield. Leaf length also revealed significant and positive correlation with leaf width and leaf yield whereas leaf width exhibited positive association with leaf yield. Hence at first instance study revealed that shoot height, number of leaves, leaf length and width could be important for selection in White Mulberry.