Genome size, chromosome number variation and its correlation with stomatal characters for assessment of ploidy levels in a core subset of mulberry (Morus spp.) germplasm.

The large size of the germplasm collection along with scanty information on their cytological and genome constitution have hindered well-planned breeding schemes in mulberry. To address the issue, a study was undertaken to investigate the variability in DNA content and genome size, chromosome number, ploidy and its relation with important stomatal characteristics among 162 mulberry germplasm collection. These germplasm comprise a core subset of 150 collections along with a representative collection of different mulberry species including the wild.