Table 1 Morus species used in the present study.

1.

M. alba Linn. (Var. S-1 Acc. No. ME-0065)

2n = 2x = 28

Style absent or indistinct, stigma papillose. Leaf ovate or wide ovate, lobed and unlobed, surface smooth without wrinkles, apex acute or acuminate, margin usually blunt serrate or dentate, few serrulate or denticulate, base indented or shallowly cordate

Japan

2.

M. tiliaefolia Makino.* (Acc No. ME-0126)

2n = 6x = 84

Style absent or indistinct, stigma densely pubescent. Leaf tomentose on the under surface.

Japan

3.

M. ihou (SER) (Acc No. ME-0107)

2n = 2x = 28

Style indistinct, stigma papillose. Leaf entire, comparatively large with surface slightly pubescent or smooth, glossy and shrivelled. Leaf margin serrate, base lobate.

China.

4.

M. rotundiloba Koidz (Acc No. ME-0095)

2n = 2x = 28

Style long, stigma lancecolate, minutely papillose. Leaf margin dentato-serrate and denticels are nearly equal. Leaf is usually trilobate and apex of the lateral lobes is rotundate.

Thailand.

5.

M. bombycis Koidz. (Acc No. ME-0028)

2n = 3x = 42

Female flower with distinct long style, stigma papillose or pilose. Leaf mostly dentato-serrate, crenato-dentate rarely argutidentato-serrate margin. Bud scales glabrous.

Japan

6.

M. rubra Linn. (Acc No. ME-0110)

2n = 2x = 28

Style absent or indistinct, stigma papillose, leaf ovate, margin crenate, apex acuminate, base cordate. Branches slightly drooping.

North America.

7.

M. nigra Linn. (Acc No. ME-0008)

2n = 2x = 28

Style absent, stigma pubiscent. Leaf generally ovate or cordate, apex caudate, margin serrate having erose serrae, base truncate or shallowly cordate.

West Asia

8.

M. multicaulis perr. (Acc No. ME-0006)

2n = 2x = 28

Style absent or indistinct, stigma papillose with protuberances inside. Leaf cordate generally unlobed, surface has wrinkled appearance, margin serrate, apex sharp obtuse, base cordate.

China

9.

M. indica Linn. (Acc No. MI-0068)

2n = 2x = 28

Style long, stigma hairy connate below. Leaf ovate margin sharply serrate often deeply lobed, scaberulous, apex caudate to acuminate. Male sepals elliptic and hairy. Female spikes short ovoid, sepals obovate-outer keeled and inner flat.

India

10.

M. latifolia Poir. (Acc No. ME-0066)

2n = 2x = 28

Style absent or indistinct, stigma papilose. Leaf broad and thick, margin serrate with serrae being acute, apex short acute, base deeply cordate.

Japan

11.

M. sinensis Hort. (Var. MR-2 Acc No. MI-0025)

2n = 2x = 28

Style short or indistinct, stigma short with blunt hair. Leaf narrow ovate smooth, entire, margin serrate, apex acuminate, base truncate.

Europe.

12.

M. laevigata Wall. * (Acc. No. MI-0164)

2n = 3x = 42

Style very short, stigma papillose inside. Flower in spikes of 4–16 cm length. Leaf ovate or wide ovate, comparatively larger, no hairs on ventral part, margin serrulate, apex long cuspidate, base shallow cordate to truncate.

India

13.

M. australis Poir (Acc No. ME-0001)

2n = 2x = 28

Style long, stigma pilose, shoot errect. Under surface of leaf light green and slightly hairy, leaf ovate, ovato-oblong or ovato-elliptical, apex caudate, margin serrate with short prickles.

Japan

14.

M. serrata Roxb. * (Acc. No. ME-0081)

2n = 4x = 56

Style very short or absent, stigma densely pubescent. Leaf rough usually with hairs, margin typically serrate, apex cuspidate or caudate, base cordate.

India

15.

M. cathayana Hemsi. (Acc No. ME-0018)

2n = 2x = 28

Style absent, stigma pubescent. Leaf cordate and ventral side covered with thick hair, margin sparsely serrate, base cordate or truncate.

China