S. Bhuvana1*, P. Mangammal2, K. A. Murugesh3, P. S. Devanand4, K. Ramesh5, K. R. Vijayan6, Nelson Navamani Raj7, K. B. Sujitha8, B. Sivakumar9 and V. Ulaganathan10
1,2,3,10Department of Sericulture, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam
4Department Plant Breeding and Genetics, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam
5,9Department Forestry, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam
6Department Seed Science Technology, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam
7Department of Seed Science Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
8Department Crop Physiology, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam
Email: bhuvana4997@gmail.com
Received-07.12.2022, Revised-17.12.2022, Accepted-29.12.2022
Abstract: Sericulture is the agricultural activity that traditionally consists in the cultivation of mulberry trees (Morus spp.) to yield leaves that are used for feeding silkworms (Bombyx mori L.), reared for silk production. In order to improve the leaf quality of mulberry leaf, general combining ability of the parents and specific combining ability of hybrids were estimated for F1 hybrids of mulberry for survivability and growth traits. Combining ability studies were done using line x tester mating design involving eight genotypes of mulberry. Combining ability analysis of variance revealed that the hybrids were highly significant for all characters because of the preponderance of non-additive genes. Among the parents, MI-0543, MI-0615, MI-0685 and V-1 were the best general combiners for most of the traits in the study. Two best combinations viz. MI-0543 x V-1 and MI-0685 x V-1 had high significant variance coupled with high SCA and can be utilized for further mulberry crop improvement programme.
Keywords: Mulberry leaf, Line x Tester, GCA, SCA, Silkworm
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