Variability, heritability and genetic advance in nine germplasm lines of mulberry (Morus spp.)

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is the sole food plant of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). As higher productivity of silk is correlated with the quality of leaf produced per unit area of cultivation and thus to economic returns in sericulture, high yielding mulberry varieties coupled with quality are the prime targets set before the mulberry breeders. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the variability, heritability and genetic advance of different growth and foliar characters along with foliage yield in different species of mulberry in order to utilizing them in future breeding programme.