Genetic studies in mulberry seedlings by diallel analysis

Abstract

Genus Morus includes more than 20 species, some of which are commercially important mulberries with different utilities. Even though these species are propagated by rooting of cuttings in practice, mulberry seeds are of importance for breeding studies and rootstock seedling propagation. For that reason, this study was conducted to know the seed performance for germination and emergence traits of four mulberry varieties viz, V1, G4, S36, MR2 using 4× 4 complete diallel mating design. According to the results both non – additive and additive gene actions are important in the inheritance of these traits. Progenitors MR2 and V1 were found to be the best combiners for most of the traits studied.