Morpho-criteria and karyotype studies in three mulberry varieties

Morpho-criteria, karyotype analysis, chromosome number and ploidy levels were studied for three mulberry varieties. Mysore local and RFS-175 is diploid with 2n=28 and BC2-59 is triploid with 2n=42 somatic chromosomes numbers respectively. Somatic chromosome length ranges from 1.29 m to 3.29 m where as arm ratio ranges from 0.59 to 1.00 m. Karyotypes of these taxa are symmetric. Only metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes are found in the somatic complement. Stomatal frequency is lesser in triploid variety when compared to diploid varieties.