LEAF YIELD COMPONENT COMBINING ABILITIES IN MULBERRY (MORUS SPP.)

A line x tester analysis was carried out in mulberry (Morus spp.) to d etermine the genetic interaction in the expression of various quantita tive characters including leaf yield. Eight clonal varieties were sele cted, 3 of them were designated as lines (female) viz. Berhampore-1, C hina white and MS-5 and 5 of them were called as testers (male) viz. M andalaya, Kosen, Assamjati, MS-1 and Kajli. Combining ability studies were conducted on these parents along with their F-1 hybrids for the v ariables laminar index, growth rate, weight of 100 dry leaves, number of primary branches per plant, plant height, nodal distance, leaf-twig ratio, aerial biomass, moisture content, moisture retention capacity and leaf yield. Broad genetic variability was observed among the genot ypes. The ratio of General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combin ing Ability (SCA) indicated the predominance of non-additive in mulber ry. While China white (female) and MS-1 (male) were the best general c ombiners among the parents, Berhampore-1 x Kajli was the best cross fo r leaf yield. Results suggest that selective crossing followed by prop er screening may be the best approach for breeding of high yielding va rieties in mulberry.