Assessment of General and Specific Combining Ability for Growth Parameters at Seedling Stage in Mulberry (Morus spp.)

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to assess combining ability for seedling growth parameters in mulberry, using six females and four males crossed in the line × tester mating design at the Department of Sericulture, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK), Bengaluru during 2023-24. Seedling traits were evaluated using a CRD design with three replications. The study revealed that Morus cathayana (ME- 03) expressed good general combining ability (GCA) for seedling height in cm (60 and 90 DAS), number of leaves per plant and fresh leaf weight per plant (g). Among the testers, M. indica (MI-0308) excelled in GCA for seedling height in cm (60 and 90 DAS), number of leaves per plant, internodal distance (cm) and fresh leaf weight per plant (g). Specific combining ability (SCA) of crosses indicated that M. latifolia (ME-0185) × M. indica (MI- 0173) in germination percentage, M. bombycis (ME-18) × M. indica (MI-0308) for seedling height in cm (60 and 90 DAS), M. multicaulis (ME-06) × M. alba (MI-0423) for number of leaves per plant, single leaf area (cm2) and fresh leaf weight per plant (g) expressed high positive SCA.