Screening of Germplasm Accessions for Breeding Programme Specific to Mulberry Fruit Production

Abstract

The present study evaluates the screening of germplasm accession for breeding programme specific with mulberry fruit production. Mulberry plants are heterozygous species due to their wide range of character differences and capacity to adapt to cross-pollination in the absence of inter-specific reproductive barriers. Since every plant in a natural population is unique, it is challenging to compile data and conduct research on how various edaphic conditions affect the expression of genotypic features in order to assess variations. In lieu of this known diversity for posterity, the collection of mulberry genotypes from diverse genetic sources, their conservation, evaluation and consequent documentation is of prime importance. In the present study, 71 mulberry accessions were characterized for morphology, reproductive and 37 fruit parameters. Based on multiple trait analysis, 14 top performing accessions viz., Mysore local, MI-11 and MI-012, ME-182, S-34, S-1635, MI-143, MI-47, MI-04, MI-79, Srinagar local, MI-231, China white, MI-07, MI-524, M. laevigata, M5, C-20, ME-224, MI-231, ME-185, ME-65, China white were identified. These accessions could serve as resources for further evaluation aimed at trait-specific crop improvement.