2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 8

author(s)
Bhuvana S, P Mangammal, KA Murugesh, PS Devanand, C Kiruthika and B Karthick Manibharathi

abstract
Correlation studies in mulberry aids to gain the knowledge about the association among the traits which is quite helpful for the development of superior hybrids. In the present study, fifteen genotypes were used which were obtained by crossing five lines and three testers. Results pertaining to correlation studies indicated that the magnitude of genotypic correlation was superior than their corresponding phenotypic correlation. Germination percent and survival percent had positive correlation with shoot diameter, number of leaves per branch and moisture retention capacity and negatively correlated with internodal distance and chlorophyll pigments. Plant height exhibited positive correlation with most of the studied traits and which were closely associated with growth rate and root parameters which highly influenced the shoot traits. Whereas, number of branches per plant showed highly significant and positive correlation with number of leaves per branch and number of roots per plant. Chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll were closely associated among themselves. Chlorophyll-a had positive correlation with chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll. It plays a major role in transforming the unusable raw solar energy into usable chemical assimilates via photosynthesis. Research findings indicated that, all the characters included in this study were inter-related among themselves and root parameters exhibited highest positive correlation with other traits.