Morpho-physiological characterization of mulberry genotypes (Morus spp.) for inheritance in future breeding programme

Abstract

In present investigation, genetic diversity of 44 mulberry genotypes was determined by using fourteen different phenotypic characters viz. sprouting time, leaf shape, apex, base, margins, pubescence, leaf length, leaf width, actual leaf area, fresh leaf weight, dry weight, moisture percentage, internodal distance and number of leaves per meter twig were and revealed significant variability among the genotypes. PCA revealed maximum variation of 50.56 per cent by PC1 and least of 0.05 per cent by PC8. Cluster dendrogram grouped 44 genotypes under two main clusters A and B with sub-clusters and sub-sub clusters. Kokuso-27 was identified as the most diverse genotype forming an individual sub-sub-cluster alone. Behrampur, BhremC-776, Chinese white, Dhar local, LF-1, Miuraso, S-41, S-54, S-146, S-799, S-1608, S-1635, S-1708, Tr-4, Tr-8 and Kokuso-27 were identified as promising genotypes. This investigation suggested that the Morus germplasm is quite diverse and can be utilized for future breeding programmes.