Genetic variability and correlation studies in selected mulberry (Morus spp.) germplasm accessions

Genetic variability analysis and heritability of different yield contributing characters were studied in 26 genotypes of mulberry. Variance analysis for characters revealed significant differences among the accessions. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV %) was found higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV %) for all the characters studied. High genetic advance coupled with heritability was observed in the characters namely, number of branches per plant, leaf yield per plant, leaf-shoot ratio, hundred leaf weight and total shoot length. Significant positive correlations to leaf yield/plant were observed for the characters, number of branches/plant (0.835**), longest shoot length (0.823**) and total shoot length (0.707**). Leaf yield/plant is an important agronomic character induced by many associated traits and hence characters like number of branches/plant, longest shoot length and total shoot length should be considered crucial parameters for selection in mulberry breeding programme.