Abstract

Twelve genotypes of mulberry (Morus spp.), exhibited genetic variation for plant height, mber of primary branches, number of nodes per metre length of a branch, total number of leaves per plant, weight of 100 leaves, leaf area and leaf yield per plant. Heritability estimates were high (>70) for number of nodes per metre length of a branch, leaf area, weight of 100 leaves and leaf yield per plant; moderate (>50 and <70) for plant height and number of primary branches; and low (>50) for total number of leaves per plant. Genotypic correlations of leaf yield per plant were highly significant and positive with plant height, number of primary branches, total number of leaves per plant weight of 100 leaves and leaf area. Maximum direct contribution to leaf yield per plant was made by number of primary branches, followed by plant height, number of nodes per metre length of a branch and weight of 100 leaves. Total number of leaves per plant and leaf area made sizeable indirect effects via number of primary branches, plant height and weight of 100 leaves.

Keywords: Mulberry, Morus spp., correlation, path analysis, variation.