Genotype x Environmental Interaction for Growth and Yield Parameters of Tree Mulberry Genotypes in Different Seasons

Aims: To identify the stable genotypes across the seasons for different yield and its contributing traits.

Study Design: Field experimental design was used

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in different seasons during 2017-19 at Department of Sericulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore.

Methodology: The present study comprised of six mulberry genotypes viz., MI-012, MI-79, MI-21, MI-139, MI-516, ME-05 and two popular check varieties V1 and M5.

Results: The mean squares due to seasons was significant for total shoot length (cm), number of leaves per plant, leaf yield per plant (g), ten fresh leaf weight (g), leaf moisture content (%) at harvest, leaf moisture retention capacity (%) at 6 and 9 hrs after harvest. Analysis of variance indicated high significance of mean sum of squares due to season for number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf yield per plant, single leaf area, moisture content and moisture retention capacity at 6 and 9 hrs after harvest of leaf. Further, it could be observed that variance due to seasons (linear) were highly significant for number of branches per plant, total shoot length, number of leaves per plant, ten fresh leaf weight, leaf yield per plant, single leaf area, moisture content and moisture retention capacity at 6 and 9 hrs after harvest of leaf. Whereas, variance due to G х S (linear) was non significant for shoot height, internodal distance, number of leaves per plant, ten fresh leaf weight, leaf yield per plant, moisture content and moisture retention capacity at 6 and 9 hrs after harvest of leaf. Variance due to pooled deviation was highly significant for shoot height, number of branches per plant, total shoot length, internodal distance, number of leaves per plant, ten fresh leaf weight, single leaf area, moisture content and moisture retention capacity at 6 and 9 hrs after harvest of leaf. Whereas, variance due to pooled deviation was non significant for leaf yield per plant.