Search Results (226)

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is valued for sericulture, medicine, and ecological restoration of degraded lands. Phospholipase A (PLA) enzymes hydrolyze membrane lipids and play critical roles in plant growth and stress responses, yet the PLA family in mulberry remains uncharacterized. Here, we performed genome-wide identification of Morus notabilis PLA genes in order to systematically analyze their phylogenetic relationships and gene structures, and profile their expression across tissues and under drought and salt stress, thereby providing candidate genes for future functional studies on stress tolerance. Fifty non-redundant PLA genes were identified and classified into three subfamilies: pPLA (22), PLA2 (nine), and PLA1 (19). Most predicted PLA proteins are small (100–500 aa) with predicted instability. Gene structures varied from 1 to 21 exons, and subfamily specific conserved domains (patatin/C2, PLATZ, lipase_3) were detected. Promoters contained stress- and hormone-responsive elements. Expression patterns across five tissues revealed distinct preferential patterns: 56% of genes showed highest expression in roots, with one-fifth in leaves. Under stress, 10 and 12 MnPLA genes were increased >2-fold (log₂FC > 1.0) by drought and salt, respectively. Notably, XP_010108435.1 and XP_024022961.1 exhibited leaf-specific high expression and were salt-induced (log₂FC > 1.0); XP_010090405.1 (leaf-specific low) was drought-induced (log₂FC > 1.0); and XP_024023462.1 (root-specific high) was induced by both stresses. These results provide a basis for functional studies and genetic improvement of stress tolerance in mulberry. Full article

This study aimed to investigate how mulberry leaf powders from different mulberry varieties influenced the quality of artificial diet for domestic silkworms. Using metabolomics, we examined the possible reasons why silkworm rearing performance varied, and provided new research ideas for improving diet quality. Forage mulberry leaves differed from grafted mulberry leaves in metabolic pathways related to fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamin C. Forage mulberry leaf powder showed considerably decreased amounts of vitamin C, serine, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, all of which are required for the production of silk proteins and their intermediates. A considerable increase in 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) content was observed. The feeding characteristics of silkworms led to decreased DNJ tolerance and lower quality of silkworm diet made from forage mulberry leaf powder compared to that made from grafted mulberry leaf powder. Furthermore, the body weight during the silk-spinning stage, cocoon weight, and Cocoon shell ratio of the reared silkworms were all markedly reduced. Using mulberry leaf powder would require addressing the problem of reduced DNJ tolerance in silkworms owing to the changes in their diet, in addition to improving the composition of the silkworm diet based on the characteristics of the mulberry leaf powder. Full article

The selective harvesting of leaves from flexible-stem crops remains a major challenge in agricultural mechanization due to stem compliance, heterogeneous petiole strength, and unstable tool–crop interaction. To address these issues, a bio-inspired ring-cutting and compliant clamping harvesting mechanism is proposed for low-damage selective harvesting under complex terrain conditions. Inspired by the adaptive attachment behavior of octopus suckers, a flexible compliant clamping interface combined with a ring-shaped sliding cutting structure was developed to stabilize flexible stems during harvesting. A coupled kinematic–force analytical model was established to characterize the interaction between tool motion, stem feeding, and cutting behavior. In addition, a sliding cutting mechanics model was introduced to analyze the relationship between cutting force and sliding angle. Dynamic multibody simulations were performed using ADAMS to verify the motion feasibility and trajectory stability of the proposed harvesting mechanism. Bench-scale experiments were conducted using mulberry branches as a representative flexible-stem crop, and a response surface methodology based on a Box–Behnken experimental design was applied to optimize key operational parameters. The optimal parameter combination included a chain linear speed of 0.18 m·s⁻¹, a feeding speed of 0.30 m·s⁻¹, and an installation angle of 36°. Under these conditions, the missed harvest rate was reduced to 9.2–9.8%, demonstrating improved harvesting stability compared with conventional rigid cutting mechanisms. The results indicate that integrating compliant stabilization with sliding cutting provides an effective engineering strategy for selective harvesting of flexible-stem crops in complex agricultural environments. Full article

The efficiency of six deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on choline chloride (ChCl) and various hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) was evaluated against a traditional organic solvent for extracting polyphenolic bioactive compounds from three different white mulberry samples (Morus alba), including branches, leaves, and fruits. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed under selected conditions identified for ChCl/glycerol DES: a 1:2 molar ratio of hydrogen bond acceptor to HBD, 20% water added to the DES, a temperature of 80 °C, and an extraction time of 30 min, providing a set of standard parameters for comparing the efficiency of different DESs. Extraction efficiencies were assessed using a developed and validated HPLC method, as well as total phenolic content and total flavonoid content assays. Among the tested DESs, those composed of ChCl and polyalcohols as HBDs showed the best performance. For branch and leaf samples, the ChCl/glycerol DES was the most effective, while for fruit samples, the ChCl/ethylene glycol DES showed the highest efficiency. In most polyphenol extractions tested, at least one DES achieved extraction efficiencies comparable to or higher than those obtained with methanol, except for flavonoids, for which DES yields were often lower. Overall, the results indicate that using DESs represents a greener and more sustainable approach to extracting bioactive compounds from white mulberry. Full article

The effects of substituting pelleted diets manufactured from cassava, chaya, and mulberry leaves for concentrate on growth performance, feed intake, rumen fermentation, and microbial protein synthesis in beef cattle were evaluated. Four beef cattle (initial BW: 250 ± 50 kg) were assigned to four treatments: a control diet (T1) and diets in which 50% of the concentrate was replaced with cassava leaf pellets (T2), chaya leaf pellets (T3), or mulberry leaf pellets (T4). The data were analyzed using a 4 × 4 Latin square with animal as a period effect as appropriate. Rumen volatile fatty acids were determined by means of HPLC, and microbial protein synthesis was assessed using urinary purine derivatives. Cattle fed cassava leaf pellets (T2) showed the greatest average daily gain (0.79 kg/d) compared with the control (0.50 kg/d; p < 0.05). Compared with T1, T4 exhibited a higher ruminal propionate proportion and total VFA concentration, which was associated with a lower acetate-to-propionate pattern, suggesting reduced methanogenic potential. No adverse health effects were observed, as indicated by hematocrit and blood urea nitrogen values within normal ranges. Microbial protein production increased in the leaf-pellet treatments, with T4 showing the highest efficiency. Overall, cassava, chaya, and mulberry leaf pellets can partially replace concentrate while maintaining growth performance and improving rumen fermentation efficiency in beef cattle. Full article

Drought stress severely limits the growth and productivity of Morus alba, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation remain poorly understood. Trehalose, an important osmoprotectant and signaling molecule, plays a key role in plant responses to abiotic stress, and its biosynthesis is primarily regulated by trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS). However, the characteristics and potential functions of TPS genes in M. alba have not been systematically investigated. In this study, we identified 11 TPS genes (MaTPSs) in the M. alba genome and performed comprehensive analyses, including phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, cis-regulatory elements, and expression profiles. Phylogenetic analysis classified MaTPSs into TPS I and TPS II subfamilies, with closer evolutionary relationships to Populus trichocarpa than to Arabidopsis thaliana. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of multiple stress- and hormone-responsive elements, suggesting their potential involvement in abiotic stress regulation. Physiological measurements showed that drought stress significantly increased trehalose accumulation, with a 1.6-fold increase in leaves and a 2.2-fold increase in roots. Expression profiling further demonstrated that six MaTPS genes were upregulated under drought stress, among which MaTPS4, MaTPS9, MaTPS10, and MaTPS11 exhibited significant induction (approximately 5-, 5-, 8-, and 10-fold, respectively). Correlation analysis further indicated that trehalose accumulation was positively associated with all upregulated MaTPS genes (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that MaTPS genes may be involved in drought-responsive regulation of trehalose metabolism in M. alba. This study provides a valuable foundation for future functional validation and the genetic improvement of drought tolerance in mulberry. Full article

This study evaluates the ability of three classification procedures to distinguish areas with different levels of atmospheric pollution, based on biomonitoring carried out by analyzing the color and spectral characteristics of mulberry (Morus L.) and linden (Tilia L.) leaves. Sampling was carried out in areas that were grouped into four classes according to the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and gaseous pollutants (TVOC, NOx, SOx, CO, and eCO₂), measured using a specialized multisensor device. A total of 57 informative features were analyzed, representing indices obtained from two color models (RGB and Lab), as well as from VIS and NIR spectral characteristics measured for the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. The data processing methodology includes feature selection using the ReliefF method and a comparative analysis between two approaches to dimensionality reduction—principal components (PC) and latent variables (LV). The results indicate that data reduction using PC provides significantly higher accuracy and better class separability, regardless of the classifier used, compared to LV, where errors exceed 40%. The comparison between classifiers shows a clear superiority of nonlinear models. While linear discriminant analysis demonstrates low efficiency, quadratic discriminant analysis (Q and DQ) and SVM with radial basis function (RBF) achieve high accuracy of class separability, reaching 100% in the SVM-RBF model for both tree species. The study also reveals functional asymmetry: the adaxial side of the leaves is more informative for spectral indices, while the abaxial side is more sensitive to color changes. The results confirm that the combined optical characteristics obtained from the leaf surface of bioindicators form a reliable method for ecological monitoring of air quality in urban areas. Full article

Mulberry is a plant species of significant economic value and is widely incorporated into various traditional medicinal formulations. Its multiple botanical parts (leaves, branches, fruits, seeds, and roots) possess both nutritional and therapeutic properties. Throughout its growth cycle, mulberry is exposed to a range of abiotic and biotic stresses. In response, the plant has evolved a suite of stress tolerance mechanisms, notably including the synthesis of diverse secondary metabolites. These metabolites, which encompass phenolic acids, flavonoids, and volatile aromatic compounds, exhibit pronounced pharmacological activities. This review systematically elucidates the roles of mulberry-derived phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and polysaccharides, which demonstrate a broad spectrum of biological effects, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, and anti-enteritis activities. By integrating knowledge of mulberry’s adaptive mechanisms to abiotic and biotic stresses with the therapeutic functions of its extracts, this review aims to provide novel insights to guide future molecular breeding strategies and drug development efforts. Full article

The silkworm, Bombyx mori (Bm), is an insect that contributes to industries such as silk production, cosmetics, medicine, and food, as well as to scientific research. A previous study showed that Bm odorant receptor (BmOr) genes, BmOr44, BmOr54, and BmOr63, may play a major role in oviposition. This research aimed to investigate the function of these three genes using a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) technique to knock down their expression levels. Our results revealed that the gene-specific dsRNAs could moderately reduce the expression levels of BmOr44, BmOr54, and BmOr63 in the silk moth antenna. Silk moths were injected with 50 nM dsRNABmOr54 and 100 nM dsRNABmOr63 and showed relative oviposition rates under the mulberry leaves condition at 111.45% and 109.58%, respectively, when compared to those with dsRNAlacZ injection. The reduction in expression levels of these three genes showed no effect on the oviposition rates of the silk moths without mulberry leaves treatment. The expression levels of these BmOr genes were restored after fertilization, suggesting the temporary effects of the dsRNAs. Our findings suggested that variation in BmOr54 expression level was correlated with changes in oviposition behavior in Bombyx mori. Full article

Morus macroura ‘Panzhihua No. 1’ is a dual-purpose cultivar valued for its edible leaves and fruits. Derived from an ancient mulberry tree, it is a unique local germplasm resource. During asexual propagation, M. macroura exhibits sexual variation closely associated with fruit and leaf yield. To explore the molecular mechanisms of sexual dimorphism and its effects on nutritional traits, we integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of male and female inflorescences and leaves. Key sex-biased genes were enriched in plant hormone signaling, flavonoid biosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism pathways. Female plants had elevated expression of ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1 (ERF1), EIN3-binding F-box proteins (EBF1/2), and Chalcone synthase (CHS) genes and higher levels of bioactive flavonoids, including isoquercitrin and kaempferol derivatives. In contrast, male plants had increased expression of gibberellin 20-oxidase (GA20ox) and DELLA genes and accumulated glycosides, which are beneficial for leaf development. These findings reveal how sex-linked metabolic networks shape mulberry tissue functional profiles, providing molecular targets for breeding. Full article

Sugarcane ensiling is often compromised by low dry matter (DM) and high soluble carbohydrate content, which promote undesirable alcoholic fermentation and substantial nutrient losses. This study evaluated the inclusion of dehydrated mulberry leaves (Morus nigra) as a natural additive to modulate the fermentative profile and improve the quality of sugarcane silage. Treatments consisted of sugarcane silage without additives (CON) or with mulberry inclusion (MUL; 24 g/kg as-fed). During ensiling, CON silages acidified faster, whereas MUL silages maintained higher pH values and greater preservation of soluble solids. At silo opening (60 d), MUL silages exhibited lower ammonia nitrogen and a 59.1% reduction in total DM losses, primarily driven by reduced effluent production. Lactic acid concentration remained unaffected by treatments. Mulberry inclusion significantly enhanced the nutritive value by increasing DM and crude protein contents while reducing fiber fractions. Consequently, in vitro degradation of DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased by 27.8% and 72.6%, respectively. Upon aerobic exposure, MUL silages showed altered pH and soluble carbohydrate dynamics compared to CON. In conclusion, including mulberry leaves is an effective and sustainable strategy to mitigate fermentative losses, as well as improve the nutritive value of sugarcane silage. Full article

The exceptional adaptability of insects to diverse food sources is central to their survival and evolutionary success. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this rapid adaptation remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, adaptive phenotypic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic differences in silkworms fed mulberry leaves versus artificial diets were investigated. The results showed that dietary changes induced enrichment of multiple detoxification pathways in the fat body, midgut, and Malpighian tubules, accompanied by significant accumulation of secondary metabolites and xenobiotics such as flavonoids, terpenoids and saponins in these tissues. Stimulation experiments with nine upregulated metabolites in silkworm BmE cells revealed that most metabolites inhibited cell viability and induced detoxification genes such as GST, UGT and CYP upregulated, with flavonoids like genistein and daidzin exhibiting obvious inductive effects. Among the upregulated genes, GSTd2 frequently responded and was significantly upregulated in artificial diet-fed silkworms. Notably, overexpressing GSTd2 in BmE cells enhanced cell tolerance to genistein and daidzin. Furthermore, silkworms overexpressing GSTd2 showed higher flavonoid tolerance and better adaptability to artificial diets. In conclusion, this study provides valuable genetic targets for improving silkworm rearing efficiency on artificial diets, providing reference to optimize feed formulations and theoretical basis for understanding metabolic adaptation mechanisms to artificial diets in silkworms. Full article

The high bioavailability and low toxicity of organic selenium underscore its potential for nutritional fortification. This study investigated the biological effects of a novel 3-selenoureidoindole derivative (3-SeU-Ind) as a dietary selenium source in the invertebrate model organism silkworm (Bombyx mori). When reared on natural mulberry leaves, supplementation with 3-SeU-Ind (4–400 mg/L) had no significant effect on larval weight, pupal weight, or cocoon production performance. However, under compound diet conditions, the highest concentration (400 mg/L) significantly reduced both larval and pupal weights. Selenium was effectively accumulated in larval tissues and the pupal body. Under high-temperature stress, supplementation with 3-SeU-Ind (100 and 400 mg/L) significantly enhanced silkworm survival, which was associated with the upregulation of key antioxidant genes, including MnSOD, CAT, GPX, and TrxR. Furthermore, the supplementation altered methionine and lysine levels in the hemolymph in a sex-specific manner. Thus, 3-SeU-Ind demonstrated potential as a safe and effective selenium supplement. Full article

This study aimed to assess the effect of mulberry leaf fortification with a probiotic (Enterococcus faecium and rosemary) on larval development, feed utilization efficiency, digestive performance, and cocoon-related traits in two Bombyx mori breeds. The results showed that a probiotic addition to the silkworms’ diet, particularly at a 2% inclusion level, enhances key productive traits such as larval weight, silk gland weight, cocoon weight, digestibility, and feed efficiency, while reducing excreta. Breed-specific differences were evident, with Kahuri/T exhibiting superior nutrient intake, assimilation, and overall productivity compared to AO/T (p < 0.0001). Productive traits during the 5th instar increased significantly over time, with both larval growth and silk gland development following rapid, exponential patterns. The Kahuri/T breed and the probiotic-supplemented groups—particularly at a 2% concentration—showed the most notable improvements compared with the AO/T breed and the control diet. Pearson correlation analyses identified strong positive relationships between feed efficiency, protein intake, and silk yield, underscoring probiotics as a viable strategy for sustainable productivity gains in sericulture. In conclusion, mulberry leaf fortification with Enterococcus faecium and rosemary, especially at a 2% inclusion level, significantly improved performance and nutrient utilization, with the strongest responses observed in the Kahuri/T breed. These findings highlight probiotic supplementation as an effective and sustainable strategy for enhancing sericulture. Full article

Although tannins generally inhibit the growth of lactic acid bacteria, different strains vary significantly in their tolerance to this inhibitory effect. However, it remains unclear whether the differences in tannin tolerance among various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) lead to variations in the fermentation outcomes during the silage process and in vitro fermentation. Therefore, this study investigated the correlation between the fermentation effects of LAB with varying tannin tolerances and the tannin content of sorghum. Four LAB strains (Lactococcus garvieae, LG; Lactococcus lactis, LL; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, LP; Pediococcus pentosaceus, PP) were selected and identified from whole sorghum and mulberry leaves, and their tannin tolerance was assessed. The results demonstrated that LG exhibited the highest tolerance to sorghum tannins, followed by LL and LP, while PP displayed the lowest tolerance. Upon addition of LAB to whole sorghum for silage, LG showed the most effective ability to lower pH, reduce ammonia nitrogen content, decrease neutral detergent fiber content, diminish microbial diversity, and enhance the abundance of firmicutes. Concurrently, during in vitro fermentation, they significantly reduced rumen fluid pH and suppressed gas emissions (CH₄, CO₂). Conversely, PP performed poorly across all parameters. These findings suggest that the fermentation effects of LAB on sorghum silage are closely related to their tannin tolerance. Full article