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During the Nationalist period (1928–1949) in China, the notion that China's territory mirrors the shape of a begonia or a mulberry leaf gained wide recognition. This analogy ingrained itself into public perceptions of modern China's boundaries and was often assumed without question. As foreign forces—symbolized by silk-worms—encroached upon the leaf-like territory, the leaf trope emerged as a platform for various patriotic appeals during wartime. This research explores the evolution of the leaf trope for China's territory in the 1930s, probing the historical and cultural connotations embedded in it. The discussion expands to incorporate intellectual resources associated with the Song-era military commander Yue Fei and the leaf trope, as they jointly influenced the portrayal of China's territory across textual and visual mediums. In this light, territorial conceptualizations in modern China were shaped by ideological constructs envisioning a future rooted in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Green tea, mulberry leaf and corn silk are traditional herbs used in the prevention and treatment of diabetes in China for a long time, but their synergistic hypoglycemic effects and mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: The effective components of green tea, mulberry leaf and corn silk were extracted and enriched. Mixture design of experiments was used to study the influences of different combinations on the cell viability and glucose uptake level of L6 myoblasts, so as to determine the optimal synergistic hypoglycemic combination. The possible hypoglycemic mechanism of the optimal synergistic combination was explored by cytotoxicity assay, glucose uptake assay, and western blot. Results: Three polyphenol enrichment fractions of the herbs, 30% ethanol elution fraction of green tea (GT), 50% ethanol elution fraction of mulberry leaf (ML) and 60% ethanol elution fraction of corn silk (CS) were obtained. The antioxidant activities of GT-30%, ML-50% and CS-60% were superior to those of crude extracts, and showed strong potential in a-amylase and a-glucosidase inhibition activities. The optimal synergistic combination of crude extracts G7 (crude extract of green tea:crude extract of mulberry leaf:crude extract of corn silk = 1:5:3), polyphenol enrichment fractions R3 (GT-30%:ML-50%:CS-60% = 1:7:1) and monomers X2 (epigallocatechin gallate:morusin:formononetin = 3:1:2) were selected, respectively. G7, R3, and X2 showed promoting effects on the cell viability and glucose uptake of L6 myoblasts within the detected concentration range. In addition, G7, R3, and X2 could increase the expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt in L6 myoblasts, and promote the translocation of Glut4, but G7 and R3 showed more significant effects. Conclusion: The synergistic hypoglycemic effects of green tea, mulberry leaf and corn silk had the characteristics of multiple-components and multiple-targets with p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt and the translocation of Glut4 signal pathways involved. The three traditional herbs might have the potential to be combined used for the prevention and treatment of diabetes based on the synergistic hypoglycemic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the earliest fibers used by mankind is silk, which was first cultivated in China. Mulberry silk is produced from Bombyx Mori which feeds on mulberry tree leaves. Bombyx Mori silkworm, hatching from its egg after 8–10 days of incubation, starts spinning its cocoon around itself on the 25th or 28th day. These cocoons are subjected to dry heat or boiling water which kills the pupae. Most of the silk consumers in Turkey are not aware of the fact that the silkworms are killed before completing their natural life span. On the other hand, the number of consumers has been rising in the world who wants to wear silk without harming the animals. In this study sericulture was done in an ethical way to produce peace silk fabrics and some of the mechanical properties of the fabrics were determined. This study is of value, raising awareness about peace silk and ethical production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed propagation is the main method of mulberry expansion in China, an important economic forest species. However, seed germination is the most sensitive stage to various abiotic stresses, especially salinity stress. To reveal the molecular regulatory mechanism of mulberry seed germination under salt stress, flavonoid metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses were performed on mulberry seeds germinated under 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl stress. Analysis of the flavonoid metabolome revealed that a total of 145 differential flavonoid metabolites (DFMs) were classified into 9 groups, 40 flavonols, 32 flavones, 16 chalcones and 14 flavanones. Among them, 61.4% (89) of the DFMs accumulated continuously with increasing salt concentration, reaching the highest level at a 100 mmol/L salt concentration; these DFMs included quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), kaempferol (3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone), quercetin-7-O-glucoside, taxifolin (dihydroquercetin) and apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), indicating that these flavonoids may be key metabolites involved in the response to salt stress. Transcriptional analysis identified a total of 3055 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), most of which were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (ko00940) and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (ko01110). Combined analysis of flavonoid metabolomic and transcriptomic data indicated that phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), flavonol synthase (FLS), bifunctional dihydroflavonol 4-reductase/flavanone 4-reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) were the key genes involved in flavonoid accumulation during mulberry seed germination under 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl stress. In addition, three transcription factors, MYB, bHLH and NAC, were involved in the regulation of flavonoid accumulation under salt stress. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‒PCR) validation showed that the expression levels of 11 DEGs, including 7 genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, under different salt concentrations were consistent with the transcriptomic data, and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) results showed that the expression levels of 6 key enzymes (proteins) involved in flavonoid synthesis were consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This study provides a new perspective for investigating the regulatory role of flavonoid biosynthesis in the regulation of mulberry seed germination under salt stress at different concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we ask whether the invasive paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) has a competitive advantage over neighbor trees in a native area. We determined the competitive capacity of paper mulberry in three deciduous broad-leaved forests using structural indices including the mixing index, the tree–tree interval index, and the diameter/height differentiation index. It was found that the reference paper mulberry had a slight competitive advantage over neighboring trees in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Such a competitive ability may play a significant role in the ecological invasion of paper mulberry. Our findings not only help to reveal the invasion mechanism of paper mulberry, but also provide an important reference for the management and utilization of paper mulberry in invaded areas. Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is currently an invasive species on several continents. However, little is known about whether paper mulberry has a competitive advantage over its surrounding trees in its native distribution range, subtropical regions of China. Here, we determined the relative intraspecific and interspecific competitive capacity of paper mulberry in three subtropical deciduous broad-leaved forests using the indices of structural diversity including the mixing index, the tree–tree interval index, and the diameter/height differentiation index. It was found that more than 80% of mingling index values were not greater than 0.25, suggesting a stronger competitiveness of paper mulberry relative to other tree species. The tree–tree interval index values ranged between 1 m and 2 m, suggesting a strong competition between paper mulberry and its neighbors. Moreover, more than 60% of the height differentiation index and diameter differentiation index values were positive, suggesting that the reference paper mulberry had a slight competitive advantage over neighboring trees in both the horizontal and vertical planes. These collectively suggest a competitive advantage over other tree species in the native distribution range, which may play a significant role in the ecological invasion of paper mulberry. Our findings not only help to reveal the invasion mechanism of paper mulberry, but also provide an important reference for the management and utilization of paper mulberry in invaded areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry is an economically important plant in the sericulture industry and traditional medicine. However, the genetic and evolutionary history of mulberry remains largely unknown. Here, this work presents the chromosome‐level genome assembly of Morus atropurpurea (M. atropurpurea), originating from south China. Population genomic analysis using 425 mulberry accessions reveal that cultivated mulberry is classified into two species, M. atropurpurea and M. alba, which may have originated from two different mulberry progenitors and have independent and parallel domestication in north and south China, respectively. Extensive gene flow is revealed between different mulberry populations, contributing to genetic diversity in modern hybrid cultivars. This work also identifies the genetic architecture of the flowering time and leaf size. In addition, the genomic structure and evolution of sex‐determining regions are identified. This study significantly advances the understanding of the genetic basis and domestication history of mulberry in the north and south, and provides valuable molecular markers of desirable traits for mulberry breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry leaves are excellent for health care, confirmed as a 'drug homologous food' by the Ministry of Health, China. The bitter taste of mulberry leaves is one of the main problems that hinders the development of the mulberry food industry. The bitter, unique taste of mulberry leaves is difficult to eliminate by post-processing. In this study, the bitter metabolites in mulberry leaves were identified as flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, coumarins and L-amino acids by a combined analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome of mulberry leaves. The analysis of the differential metabolites showed that the bitter metabolites were diverse and the sugar metabolites were down-regulated, indicating that the bitter taste of mulberry leaves was a comprehensive reflection of various bitter-related metabolites. Multi-omics analysis showed that the main metabolic pathway related to bitter taste in mulberry leaves was galactose metabolism, indicating that soluble sugar was one of the main factors of bitter taste difference in mulberry leaves. Bitter metabolites play a great role in the medicinal and functional food of mulberry leaves, but the saccharides in mulberry leaves have a great influence on the bitter taste of mulberry. Therefore, we propose to retain bitter metabolites with drug activity in mulberry leaves and increase the content of sugars to improve the bitter taste of mulberry leaves as strategies for mulberry leaf food processing and mulberry breeding for vegetable use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we discovered a new virus named Quanzhou mulberry virus (QMV), which was identified from the leaves of an ancient mulberry tree. This tree is over 1300 years old and is located at Fujian Kaiyuan Temple, a renowned cultural heritage site in China. We obtained the complete genome sequence of QMV using RNA sequencing followed by rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends (RACE). The QMV genome is 9256 nucleotides (nt) long and encodes five open reading frames (ORFs). Its virion was made of icosahedral particles. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that it belongs to the unclassified Riboviria. An infectious clone for QMV was generated and agroinfiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana and mulberry, resulting in no visible disease symptoms. However, systemic movement of the virus was only observed in mulberry seedlings, suggesting that it has a host-specific pattern of movement. Our findings provide a valuable reference for further studies on QMV and related viruses, contributing to the understanding of viral evolution and biodiversity in mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry is an economically important crop for sericulture in China. Mulberry plantations are shifting inland, where they face high salinity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) reportedly enhance mulberry's tolerance to salinity. Here, we assessed if additional adaptive advantages against salinity are provided by sex differences beyond those provided by mycorrhizal symbiosis. In a pot experiment, male and monoecious plants were exposed to three salinity regimes (0, 50, and 200 mM NaCl) and two mycorrhiza-suppressed conditions (with or without benomyl application) for more than 16 months. We noticed that salinity alone significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate, salinity tolerance, K+ concentrations, and the ionic ratios of all plants. Mycorrhizal association mildly ameliorated the salt-induced detrimental effects, especially for monoecious plants, and sex-specific responses were observed. Meanwhile, both sexes had adopted different strategies to enhance their salinity resistance. Briefly, mycorrhizal monoecious plants exhibited a higher net photosynthetic rate and lower translocation of Na+ from root to shoot compared with mycorrhizal males under saline conditions. Their salt tolerance was probably due to the Ca2+/Na+ in roots. In comparison, male plants exhibited lower Na+ acquisition, more Na+ translocated from root to shoot, higher root biomass allocation, and higher N concentrations under harsh saline conditions, and their salt tolerance was mainly related to the K+/Na+ in their shoots. In conclusion, our results highlight that AMF could be a promising candidate for improving plant performance under highest salinity, especially for monoecious plants. Cultivators must be mindful of applying fungicides, such as benomyl, in saline areas. • There were sex-specific differences between mycorrhizal male and monoecious mulberry plants. • Both sexes of mulberry plants adopt different strategies to enhance salinity tolerance. • Monoecious plants benefited more from fungal symbiosis than males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mulberry tree (Morus alba) has been cultivated in China for thousands of years. Mulberry Diels-Alder-type adducts (MDAAs) are characteristic constituents of the genus Morus. The unique structure and diverse bioactivities of MDAAs have attracted the attention of researchers. Kuwanon M (KWM) is an MDAA isolated from the root bark of Morus alba. This research reports the growth inhibitory effects of KWM on human lung cancer cells and its possible mechanism. In A549 and NCI-H292 cells, KWM treatment induced suppression of cell proliferation and migration. The appearance of chromatin condensation, phosphatidyl serine exposure and caspase cleavage indicated the arising of apoptosis. The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), release of cytochrome c and dysregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 demonstrated that the KWM-induced apoptosis was through the mitochondrial pathway. Paraptosis was simultaneously detected under KWM treatment, as evidenced by the exhibition of cytoplasmic vacuolation, down-regulation of Alix and up-regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins. Mechanistically, ER stress induced activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways and activation of the MAPK (JNK and ERK) pathway, all of which were critical for KWM-induced apoptosis and paraptosis. These findings suggested the possibility that KWM might be considered as a potential lung cancer therapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry leaf is a kind of unconventional feed resource with high yield and rich in avariety of natural active substances. The mulberry leaf has high nutritional value and feeding value. Animal feeding mulberry leaf can improve growth performance, enhance immunity and antistress ability. At present, feed resource shortage and distribution are unreasonable in China. The paper reviews the functions of mulberry leaves and their applications in livestock and poultry production, to provide reference for the development and utilization of mulberry leaves as unconventional feed resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The application of maize silage has certain limitations, and the development of new forage resources is of great significance for improving resource utilization and environmental protection. Mulberry leaves are rich in nutritional value and are widely used in animal husbandry. However, excessive antinutritional factors, such as crude fiber, tannins, and phytic acid, in mulberry leaves affect the absorption and the utilization of nutrients by animals. Microbial fermentation technology can significantly reduce the contents of crude fiber, and the antinutritional factors in mulberry leaves minimize nutrient loss and improve the palatability of mulberry leaves. Therefore, this experiment found that the replacement of maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs has the potential to enhance muscle nutritional value and to improve mutton flavor without negatively affecting growth performance, serum biochemical indices, slaughter performance, or meat quality. Maize silage has a high demand for fertilizer and water. As an unconventional feed resource, mulberry silage has the potential to replace most maize silage and to alleviate the shortage of roughage in the mutton sheep industry in China. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of the replacement of maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, slaughter performance, and meat quality. Ninety-six healthy Hu lambs were randomly divided into four groups with six replicates per group and four lambs per replicate. The amounts of 0, 20, 40, and 60% of maize silage were replaced by mulberry silage in each group (denoted as CON, L, M, and H, respectively). The results showed that replacing maize silage with mulberry silage had no significant effect on the growth performance or the slaughter performance of Hu lambs (p > 0.05). Feeding Hu lambs with mulberry silage significantly reduced serum glucose (GLU) and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content (p < 0.05), and it increased the content of ether extract (EE) in the longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the percentage of EAA in the M and H groups was significantly lower than that in the CON and L groups (p < 0.05). In addition, in the fatty acid profile, the percentage of C16:1 in the M group was significantly increased, while the percentage of C18:0 and C20:0 were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, it was recommended that 20–40% of maize silage be replaced by mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease, whereas α-glucosidases are key enzymes involved in the metabolism of starch and glycogen. There is a long history of the use of mulberry leaf (the leaf of Morus alba) as an antidiabetic herb in China, and we found that chalcomoracin, one of the specific Diels–Alder adducts in mulberry leaf, had prominent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and has the potential to be a substitute for current hypoglycemic drugs such as acarbose, which have severe gastrointestinal side effects. In this study, chalcomoracin was effectively isolated from mulberry leaves, and its α-glucosidase inhibition was studied via enzymatic kinetics, isothermal titration (ITC) and molecular docking. The results showed that chalcomoracin inhibited α-glucosidase through both competitive and non-competitive manners, and its inhibitory activity was stronger than that of 1-doxymycin (1-DNJ) but slightly weaker than that of acarbose. ITC analysis revealed that the combination of chalcomoracin and α-glucosidase was an entropy-driven spontaneous reaction, and the molecular docking results also verified this conclusion. During the binding process, chalcomoracin went into the "pocket" of α-glucosidase via hydrophobic interactions, and it is linked with residues Val544, Asp95, Ala93, Gly119, Arg275 and Pro287 by hydrogen bonds. This study provided a potential compound for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and a theoretical basis for the discovery of novel candidates for α-glycosidase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphodes pyloalis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is an important pest of mulberry trees in China, and current methods for accurate population monitoring and control of this pest are lacking. The sex pheromone of G. pyloalis in China was re‐identified as E10, E12, Z14‐hexadecenyl acetate (E10E12Z14‐16:Ac) and tentatively E10, E12, E14‐hexadecenyl acetate (E10E12E14‐16:Ac). The emergence began 2 h before the dark period, and the peak emergence was 3 h into scotophase. Analysing the female moth's age from 1–9 days revealed that the titre of sex pheromone E10E12Z14‐16:Ac and E10E12E14‐16:Ac did not change statistically, and the ratio remained constant at 7.19 ± 1.12. The titre of pheromone had a significant circadian rhythm, increasing at 2 h after darkness, peaking at 6–8 h before decreasing, but it was still detected after 4 h into photophase. Mating of G. pyloalis occurred mainly at night, with the highest rate during 3 h into scotophase, which was earlier than the temporal pattern of pheromone titres. 18.1% of unfed moths mated immediately after eclosion during the scotophase. This was lower than what is seen in 1–3‐day‐old moths but similar to 4‐day‐old moth. Mating can occur on the same day after emergence, primarily within 1–4 days. Female moths can release pheromone again 48 h after mating, but the ratio of E10E12Z14‐16:Ac and E10E12E14‐16:Ac was reduced to 5.1 ± 0.73. The trapping of male moths in the field showed a significant circadian rhythm, but significant differences in pheromone trapping in Sichuan Gongxian, Zhejiang Chun'an and Haining, and Jiangsu Wujiang were observed. At the same location, the circadian rhythm of moth trapping showed differences between generations. The trapping of the overwintering generation occurred mostly in the early period of scotophase, while other generations were caught slightly later. Our results contribute to effective pheromone trapping for monitoring and mass trapping to better control G. pyloalis populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Latin name " Morus alba L.") is a perennial deciduous tree in the family of Moraceae, widely distributed around the world. In China, mulberry is mainly distributed in the south and the Yangtze River basin. Its leaves can be harvested 3–6 times a year, which has a great resource advantage. Mulberry leaves are regarded as the homology of medicine and food traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Polysaccharides, as its main active ingredients, have various effects, such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory. This review summarizes the research progress in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and structure-function relationship of polysaccharides from mulberry leaves in the last decade, hoping to provide a reference for the subsequent development and market application of polysaccharides from mulberry leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A shortage of high-quality roughage jeopardises the Chinese mutton sheep industry. The development of new roughage resources is important to safeguard the health and welfare of the sheep, to save costs, increase efficiency and improve resource utilization. Mulberry leaves have high nutritional value and have been used in herbivore production for a long time in China. However, fresh mulberry leaves are not easy to preserve, and dried mulberry leaves readily lose nutrients in the conservation process. Ensiling mulberry leaves can reduce the anti-nutritional constituents, mainly phytic acid and tannin, while reducing any nutrient loss. In this study, mulberry silage replaced part of a maize silage-based diet for fattening Hu lambs. The effects of mulberry silage on the growth of the lambs, their gastrointestinal tissue morphology, rumen fermentation parameters and bacterial diversity were investigated. The results showed that using mulberry silage in place of 20–40% of the maize silage in the diet of Hu lambs promoted their growth, while maintaining satisfactory digestion. Maize silage has a significant environmental impact on livestock due to its high requirement for fertilizer and water. Mulberry has the potential to replace much of the large amount of maize silage grown in China, but its feeding value in the conserved form needs to be evaluated. We fed Hu lambs diets with 20–60% of the maize silage replaced by mulberry silage, adjusting the soybean meal content when increasing the mulberry silage inclusion rate in an attempt to balance the crude protein content of the diets. Mulberry silage had higher crude protein and lower acidic and neutral detergent fiber contents compared to maize silage. Replacing maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage had no effect on the feed intake and growth rate of Hu lambs. However, the rumen pH increased, the acetate to propionate in rumen fluid increased, and the rumen ammonia concentration decreased as mulberry replaced maize silage and soyabean meal. This was associated with an increase in norank_f__F082 bacteria in the rumen. Rumen papillae were shorter when mulberry silage replaced maize silage, which may reflect the reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the original silage. In conclusion, mulberry silage can successfully replace maize silage and soyabeans in the diet of Hu lambs without loss of production potential, which could have significant environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit is a fruit with nutritional and medicinal value. It is widely cultivated in different regions of China, which may result in differences in its chemical composition. In this research, 25 mulberry fruit samples from six provinces in China were investigated. The contents of anthocyanins were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The contents of two main anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (C3R), ranged from 0.656 ± 0.006 mg/g to 4.367 ± 0.243 mg/g and from 0.226 ± 0.007 mg/g to 1.649 ± 0.013 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, the contents of total phenolic, total flavonoid, vitamin C, titratable acids, reducing sugars and antioxidant capacity (FRAP, DPPH, scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity) were also assessed. The results and principal component analysis showed that the Zhongsang 5801 variety from Sichuan, Dechang had the greatest health value with the highest active compound contents. Based on our analysis, the variety from Sichuan, Dechang is a high-quality plant source for mulberry fruit cultivation. This research provides a basis for the rational development and utilization of mulberry fruit resources in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry is an important material to utilize the Cd polluted farmland in China and planting forage mulberry is a new development direction. This study aimed to investigate the changes of annual biomass and Cd content in shoot of Guisangyou 62, Guisangyou 12 and Yuesang 11 in field XT-C1, XT-X1 and ZZ-M1 under the pressure of Cd in 3 years. The Cd extraction ability of forage mulberry was analyzed, and the safety of forage mulberry was also discussed. The results showed that the annual biomass of each forage mulberry shoot could reach 64.52 ∼ 86.61 t/hectare (ha). The total harvest biomass of Guisangyou 12 was the highest, followed by Guisangyou 62 and Yuesang 11. In the same test area, for different forage mulberry varieties, there were no significant differences in Cd content in the shoot at each sampling time, and the Cd concentrations in shoot were in the range of 0.05 ∼ 0.66 mg/kg, meeting the hygienical standard for feeds (GB 13078-2017, China). Without considering the test area, the average Cd removal amount of each forage mulberry in a year was about 18.52 g/ha. Planting forage mulberry may become a new ecological economic model to achieve the safe utilization of Cd polluted farmland. Novelty statement Mulberry is one of the most important plants for safe utilization the Cd polluted farmland in China and planting mulberry as animal feed is a new development direction. This study investigated the effects of Cd on the shoot biomass of 3 forage mulberry varieties at 3 experimental areas in 3 years. It also examined how much Cd could be removed from soil by harvesting forage mulberry for 4 times a year. The Cd content in the shoot of forage mulberry and its safety were also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry sclerotial disease is a destructive disease that afflicts mulberry fruits throughout the world. In recent years, the impact of mulberry sclerotial disease has increased with the development of the mulberry fruit industry. Ciboria carunculoides, C. shiraiana, and Scleromitrula shiraiana are all pathogens causing mulberry sclerotial disease, but the dominant pathogen may be different in different mulberry planting areas. In this study, we investigated the causal agents of mulberry sclerotial disease in Chongqing and Sichuan, the main mulberry planting areas in south‐west China. The results showed that C. carunculoides was the dominant pathogen in the investigated areas, and the disease incidence rate on some widely cultivated mulberry varieties exceeded 90%. Based on the differences in internal transcriber spacer sequences of different pathogens, we developed a method using cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) from digestion with the three restriction enzymes HindIII, EcoRI, and MluI for rapid detection of pathogens on mulberry fruits. Use of this method confirmed that the diseased fruits of some mulberry varieties were infected by a mixture of C. carunculoides and S. shiraiana. Long‐fruit mulberry, which was considered to be resistant to sclerotial disease in the past, was also infected by C. carunculoides. Diseased fruit infected by C. shiraiana or by S. shiraiana alone were not detected. Our results suggest that C. carunculoides is probably the dominant pathogen causing mulberry sclerotial disease in south‐west China. The CAPS method for rapid detection of pathogens could assist diagnosis, epidemiology, and disease monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the seventeenth century crisis, China witnessed the decline and fall of the Ming dynasty. Scholars have long discussed the role of silver in the Ming crisis, but less attention has been paid to the effects of the production and circulation of silk. This paper examines both internal and external factors that contributed to the decline of Chinese sericulture and silk production, as well as consequent damages to the economy and social relations. Converging environmental and economic factors within major silk-producing regions, as well as a number of incidents that affected the Pacific trade of silk, exacerbated the problems of the late Ming. This paper applies the Law of Supplies and Demands to analyse interconnections between China, Manila, and New Spain. An understanding of the silk industry is essential to explain significant economic connections both within Ming China and between China and the outside world during the seventeenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We reconstructed a complex wetland with nature-based solutions. • This eco-economic system was driven by renewable emergy flows and high exergy. • The mulberry-related industry provided good economic benefits. • The stable equilibria of the eco-economic coupling mode represented a state of synergistic symbiosis. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are effective approaches for solving ecological and economic problems related to wetland reconstruction, while emergy and exergy are well suited for evaluating reconstructed eco-economic systems. In this paper, we executed a wetland reconstruction project involving a mulberry-fir woodland and dike-pond complex (MFWDPC) with NBS in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China. We evaluated the coupling mode of this eco-economic system by using emergy and exergy theories. After wetland reconstruction, the emergy density that entered the MFWDPC was 1.48E + 18 sej yr−1 hm−2, in which the naturally renewable flow accounted for 96.31 % of the emergy inflows, and the emergy sustainability index (ESI) for the eco-economic system was 708.88. The exergy and specific exergy were 2.41E + 14 j yr−1 and 2.08E + 08 j yr−1 kg−1, respectively, and the emergy/exergy ratio was 1.55E + 03 for the MFWDPC. In addition, mulberry trees with strong flooding tolerance provided good economic benefits due to the use of these plants in reconstructed eco-economic systems. Our study of NBS for wetland reconstruction helps in understanding the synergistic symbiosis between ecosystems and economic systems, thereby promoting the reconstruction of degraded wetlands in China and other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economically adaptable mulberry (Morus alba L.) has a long history of grafting in China, yet the physiological mechanisms and advantages in drought tolerance remain unexplored. In our study, we investigated the responses of self-rooted 2X (diploid), 3X (triploid), and 4X (tetraploid) plants, as well as polyploid plants grafted onto diploid seedling rootstocks (2X/2X, 3X/2X, and 4X/2X) under drought stress. We found that self-rooted diploid plants exhibited the most severe phenotypic damage, lowest water retention, photosynthetic capacity, and the least effective osmotic stress adjustment compared to tetraploid and triploid plants. However, grafted diploid and triploid plants showed effective mitigation of drought-induced damage, with higher relative water content and improved soil water retention. Grafted plants also improved the photosystem response to drought stress through elevated photosynthetic potential, closed stomatal aperture, and faster recovery of chlorophyll biosynthesis in the leaves. Additionally, grafted plants altered osmotic protective compound levels, including starch, soluble sugar, and proline content, thereby enhancing drought resistance. Absolute quantification PCR indicated that the expression levels of proline synthesis-related genes in grafted plants were not influenced after drought stress, whereas they were significantly increased in self-rooted plants. Consequently, our findings support that self-rooted triploid and tetraploid mulberries exhibited superior drought resistance compared to diploid plants. Moreover, grafting onto seedling rootstocks enhanced tolerance against drought stress in diploid and triploid mulberry, but not in tetraploid. Our study provides valuable insights for a comprehensive analysis of physiological effects in response to drought stress between stem-roots and seedling rootstocks. • Tetraploid and triploid plants tolerate drought stress better than diploid plants in self-rooted mulberries. • Grafting further enhances the drought tolerance of diploid and triploid plants. • Grafting probably confers enhanced drought tolerance to the plants through seedling rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, plant polysaccharides have garnered attention for their impressive biological activity. Mulberry leaves have a long history of medicinal and edible use in China, polysaccharide is one of the main active components of mulberry leaves, mainly consist of xylose, arabinose, fructose, galactose, glucose and mannose, etc. The extraction methods of mulberry leaves polysaccharides (MLPs) mainly include hot water extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasonic extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and co-extraction. The separation and purification of MLPs involve core steps such as decolorization, protein removal, and chromatographic separation. In terms of pharmacological effects, MLPs exhibit excellent activity in reducing blood glucose, anti-oxidation, immune regulation, anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-coagulation, and regulation of gut microbiota. Currently, there is a considerable amount of research on MLPs, however, there is a lack of systematic summarization. This review summarizes the research progress on the extraction, structural characterization, and pharmacological activities of MLPs, and points out existing shortcomings and suggests reference solutions, aiming to provide a basis for further research and development of MLPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid rain, which has negative impacts on the vegetation of ecological systems, is widespread in Northern and Southern China. However, relatively little is known about the effects of acid rain on the growth and yield of economically important tree species in China. To address this issue, we studied the responses of mulberry seedlings to simulated acid rain (SAR) at different pH values. At pH 4.5, SAR induced increased antioxidant activities, total antioxidant capacity, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (OFR) relative to controls. However, the growth of the seedlings under SAR treatments at pH 4.5 and pH 5.6 was greater than controls. No significant differences in photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching parameters were observed between the SAR treatments at pH 4.5 and pH 5.6 and controls. However, the SAR treatment at pH 3.5 resulted in altered leaf surface characteristics and changes to chloroplast ultrastructure, together with an increase in membrane electrical conductivity and an accumulation of OFR and malondialdehyde. In contrast, leaf antioxidant enzyme activities were decreased, together with electron transport parameters and photosynthesis. Taken together, these results show that the effects of acid rain on the growth and leaf physiology of mulberry seedling are dependent on pH. Moreover, mulberry seedlings had a high tolerance to acid rain at pH 4.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lysine succinylation is a naturally occurring post-translational modification (PTM) that is ubiquitous in organisms. Lysine succinylation plays important roles in regulating protein structure and function as well as cellular metabolism. Global lysine succinylation at the proteomic level has been identified in a variety of species; however, limited information on lysine succinylation in plant species, especially paper mulberry, is available. Paper mulberry is not only an important plant in traditional Chinese medicine, but it is also a tree species with significant economic value. Paper mulberry is found in the temperate and tropical zones of China. The present study analyzed the effects of lysine succinylation on the growth, development, and physiology of paper mulberry. Results: A total of 2097 lysine succinylation sites were identified in 935 proteins associated with the citric acid cycle (TCA cycle), glyoxylic acid and dicarboxylic acid metabolism, ribosomes and oxidative phosphorylation; these pathways play a role in carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms and may be regulated by lysine succinylation. The modified proteins were distributed in multiple subcellular compartments and were involved in a wide variety of biological processes, such as photosynthesis and the Calvin-Benson cycle. Conclusion: Lysine-succinylated proteins may play key regulatory roles in metabolism, primarily in photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as in many other cellular processes. In addition to the large number of succinylated proteins associated with photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, some proteins associated with the TCA cycle are succinylated. Our study can serve as a reference for further proteomics studies of the downstream effects of succinylation on the physiology and biochemistry of paper mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Plant‐associated microbes influence plant performance and may also impact biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. The microbiome of mulberry trees planted for ecological restoration in the hydro‐fluctuation belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China, exhibited distinct patterns of localization. The endosphere exhibited lower α‐diversity relative to the rhizosphere, but was more closely related to host growth status, especially in stem tissues. Pantoea was the predominant bacterial genus inhabiting the stems of two well‐growing plants, while sequences identified as Pseudomonas and Pantoea were abundant in poorly growing plants. The complexity of the endophytic community was more connected to growth status in well‐growing plants than it was in poorly growing plants. Among 151 endophytes cultured from collected samples of mulberry, 64 exhibited plant growth‐promoting (PGP) potential in vitro and the majority of beneficial taxa were harvested from well‐growing plants. Collectively, the present study indicates that the recruitment of beneficial endophytes may contribute to mulberry fitness under abiotic stress, and it provides a foundation for the development of a new strategy in vegetation restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the protologue, Epimedium tianmenshanense (Berberidaceae), a species endemic to western Hunan, China, was described as 'flower small, 0.2–0.4 cm diam., inner sepals white, petals as long as inner sepals or a little shorter than the latter, spur very short, ca 5.0 mm'. However, both morphological characteristics and molecular evidence suggest that E. tianmenshanense is closely related to E. baojingense, a taxon with a long spur, thus suggesting that the size of the floral parts is not as reliable as previously believed. When investigating the variability of E. tianmenshanense in more detail, in the field as well as in cultivation, we found that the petals were are highly variable in morphology (both shape and size), being cucullate, subulate, short to long spurred, and with various transitions. The flowers size varied from small to large accordingly. The flowers with cucullate and subulate petals, which were a little shorter than the inner sepals or almost as long as the latter, were small (about 0.8 cm in diameter). The flowers with long spurs, which were much longer than the inner sepals, were also large (about 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter). Finally, the flowers with short spurs, which were a little longer than the inner sepals, were medium‐sized (about 1.0–1.2 cm in diameter). In addition, the color of inner sepals was revised from 'white, occasionally light mulberry‐purple' to yellowish green or yellowish white. Epimedium tianmenshanense is a perfect example of natural petal evolution, which could be used for further taxonomic and evolutionary studies. The reason for the variation and the taxonomic treatment of the species still need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two medicinal plants, African Locust Bean (Parkia biglobosa) and Lonicera japonica, traditionally used in West Africa and China were investigated against four spoilage microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Cronobacter dublinensis, Pantoea agglomerans, and Bacillus sp., isolated from mulberry fruit. The aqueous extract of the P. biglobosa (ALB) was potent with average inhibitory zones against four spoilage microorganisms recorded as (Means ± SD) 6.5 to 19.5 mm as well as 6.5 to 15.5 mm for L. japonica (HSF) at concentrations of 400 mg/ml. The aqueous extracts of P. biglobosa (54%) inhibited decay better than L. japonica (66%). Decay situations of the medicinal plants with 1‐MCP emerged higher than the control group 78%, 72%, and 68% in ALB + 1‐MCP, HSF + 1‐MCP, and deionized water, respectively. Therefore, two plant extracts against spoilage microorganisms isolated from mulberry fruit had good inhibitory activities, but their mixture with 1‐MCP could not preserve the mulberry fruits in limited storage time. Practical applications: Advance in the bacteria control using a natural control like medicinal plants against plant infections was investigated. The present study demonstrated the potentials of African locust bean and L. japonica as a novel biocontrol agent to the extent of preserving the postharvest decay of mulberry fruit in limited storage time at room temperature. The results and findings obtained in this study support the potential application of these two plants in mulberry fruit preservation as well as in traditional therapeutics. In addition, the combination with 1‐MCP also serves as the potential to extend the shelf life of mulberry fruit in order to limit the use of pesticides in postharvest treatments. This study reports for the first time isolated microorganisms from mulberry fruit and the developments of edible coatings utilizing plant extracts from different continents against their activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mulberry, a vigorous pioneer species used for ecological reclamation and a high-protein forage plant for economic development, has been widely planted in China. To further develop its potential value, it is necessary to explore the regulatory mechanism of nitrogen metabolism for rational nitrogen utilization. In this study, we investigated the morphology, physiology and transcriptome of a paper mulberry hybrid (Broussonetia kazinoki  ×  B. papyrifera) in response to different nitrogen concentrations. Moderate nitrogen promoted plant growth and biomass accumulation. Photosynthetic characteristics, concentration of nitrogenous compounds and activities of enzymes were stimulated under nitrogen treatment. However, these enhancements were slightly or severely inhibited under excessive nitrogen supply. Nitrite reductase and glutamate synthase were more sensitive than nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase and more likely to be inhibited under high nitrogen concentrations. Transcriptome analysis of the leaf transcriptome identified 161,961 unigenes. The differentially expressed genes associated with metabolism of nitrogen, alanine, aspartate, glutamate and glycerophospholipid showed high transcript abundances after nitrogen application, whereas those associated with glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism were down-regulated. Combined with weighted gene coexpression network analysis, we uncovered 16 modules according to similarity in expression patterns. Asparagine synthetase and inorganic pyrophosphatase were considered two hub genes in two modules, which were associated with nitrogen metabolism and phosphorus metabolism, respectively. The expression characteristics of these genes may explain the regulation of morphological, physiological and other related metabolic strategies harmoniously. This multifaceted study provides valuable insights to further understand the mechanism of nitrogen metabolism and to guide utilization of paper mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is one of the largest producers of mulberry in the world. With the development of the sericulture industry, several pests and diseases have occurred in rapid succession, chief among which is the root-knot nematode disease affecting mulberry. According to the China cocoon and silk exchange, cocoon prices have doubled since the beginning of 2009 and rose to 92,700 yuan ($135,770) per tonne in mid-April 2010. According to customs statistics, in the first eight months of 2011, China’s silk merchandise exports amounted to 2.39 billion yuan. In this study, sequencing of the rDNA-ITS and D2-D3 region of the 28S rRNA gene was combined with root-knot nematode morphological characteristics to identify the root-knot nematode infecting mulberry in the Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces of China. This resulted in the identification of Meloidogyne enterolobii as the causal species of root-knot nematode infections in these regions. Importantly, the morphological data agreed completely with our molecular phenotyping efforts, indicating that rDNA sequencing could provide a more clear-cut and less labor-intensive means of characterizing root-knot nematode infections in the future. The differences between this study and the previous studies were discussed, as well as the damage degree, host species and influence scope of M. enterolobii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the lack of feed resources in China, mulberry leaves have been developed as a ruminant forage rich in protein and functional components. To make full use of mulberry leaves, including their nutrients and biological activities, we investigated the effects of cellulase and Lactobacillus casei LC on the nutritive value and antioxidant capacity of mulberry leaf silage. Mulberry leaves from 2 locally prevailing high-yield cultivars were separately subjected to ensiling treatments either with or without addition of Lactobacillus culture, in combination with variable levels of cellulase application. After 60-d ensiling, the resulting silage was sampled and analyzed for fermentation parameters, antioxidant activity, carbohydrates, and protein fractions, as well as in vitro rumen gas production. The results showed that nutrients, including functional components of mulberry leaves, were well preserved during the ensiling process. Compared with the control, the application of cellulase and Lactobacillus casei LC resulted in greater dry matter recovery, higher contents of lactic acid, true protein, and total flavonoid, and increased antioxidant activity and microbial protein production, as well as decreased pH value, lower concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, and lower fiber fractions in the mulberry leaf silage, which varied between the 2 selected mulberry cultivars. These results suggest that mulberry leaf silage could be a quality feed with robust antioxidant capacity, which could be improved by the application of cellulase and Lactobacillus casei LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves of Morus alba (LMA) are crucial traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of clearing heat. In ancient Chinese materia medica and the current Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, LMA are recorded to be harvested after frost for medicinal purpose. However, the reason and mechanism of this traditional usage have been still unknown so far. In this work, it was confirmed firstly that the antipyretic effect of LMA after frost was better than that of before frost significantly on feverish rats. Subsequently, the chemical profiles of LMA before and after frost were characterized by fingerprint, respectively. Then, the endemic peaks after frost and positive differential peaks were screened as the research object of spectrum-effect correlation by orthogonal signal correction partial least square discrimination (OPLS). Finally, a multivariable and continuous-index spectrum-effect correlation model coupled with OPLS was established. As a result, the antipyretic components of postfrost LMA were screened and identified as citric acid derivative and tryptophan which may be the synergistic material basis. The study can provide a scientific foundation for the enhancement of effects in the postfrost LMA. Moreover, the strategy of this research could provide a valuable reference for revealing the material basis of synergetic or antagonistic effects among other complex drug systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and the ancient Chinese herbal formulas recorded that mulberry leaves collected after frost had good quality. However, the reason has not yet been fully elucidated. Objective: We investigated the effect of frost on the accumulation of flavonoids and antioxidant activities of mulberry leaves. Materials and Methods: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to analyze chemical components and determine the content of five flavonol glycosides from mulberry leaves collected before and after frost, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the same mulberry leaves were evaluated by total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Fe2+ equivalent (FeE), reducing power (RP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical scavenging assay. Results: Ten compounds were identified as flavonol glycosides exception of chlorogenic acid. Quantitative analysis showed that content of isoquercitrin, astragalin, and kaempferol-3-O-(6''-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside reached a maximum of 3.05 mg/g, 0.70 mg/g, and 0.69 mg/g after Frost's Descent, respectively. Moreover, the lowest value of flavonol glycosides appeared in August. The antioxidant activities were also found to have the same tendency. The maximum value of TAC, FeE, RP, DPPH and ABTS were 64.3 rutin equivalent (RE) mg/g, 46.2 RE mg/g, 31.3 RE mg/g, 22.5 RE mg/g and 26.7 RE mg/g, respectively, in November. They were 1.4 times, 1.4 times, 1.6 times, 1.6 times, and 1.9 times of the minimum values, respectively, in August. There was a significantly and positively correlation between antioxidant activities and content of flavonol glycosides (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Frost is beneficial to the accumulation of flavonol glycosides and the improvement of antioxidant activities of mulberry leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The color of mulberry wine is difficult to maintain since the main chromogenic substances, anthocyanins, are severely degraded during fermentation and aging. This study selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae I34 and Wickerhamomyces anomalus D6, both displaying high hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase (HCDC) activity (78.49% and 78.71%), to enhance the formation of stable vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins (VPAs) pigments during mulberry wine fermentation. The HCDC activity of 84 different strains from eight regions in China was primarily screened via the deep well plate micro fermentation method, after which the tolerance and brewing characteristics were evaluated via simulated mulberry juice. The two selected strains and a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae were then inoculated individually or sequentially into the fresh mulberry juice, while the anthocyanin precursors and VPAs were identified and quantified via UHPLC-ESI/MS. The results showed that the HCDC-active strains facilitated the synthesis of stable pigments, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside-4-vinylcatechol (VPC3G), and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside-4-vinylcatechol (VPC3R), highlighting its potential for enhancing color stability. [Display omitted] • Hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase (HCDC) activity of 84 yeast strains was determined. • Two HCDC-active strains were selected for mulberry wine fermentation. • HCDC-active strains enhanced vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins (VPAs) formation. • The VPAs in mulberry wine were identified for the first time. • VPAs were more stable than precursor anthocyanins during mulberry wine aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, origin of mulberry, has rich genetic resources usually. High expense, limited space and wavering environment of usually conservation in vivo poses dangerous situation for mulberry. The concept of core collection could takes priority for conservation of mulberry. In this study, 560 accessions were used with 40 morphological descriptors and stratified sampling strategies for a core collection. The core collection consisted of 28 accessions, accounting for 5% of the whole collection. The core collection included seven accessions belonging to Morus alba, one accession belonging to M. alba var. macrophylla, four accessions belonging to M. atropurprea, one accession belonging to M. nigra, three accessions belonging to M. australis, seven accessions belonging to M. multicaulis, two accessions belonging to M. wittorum and three accessions belonging to M. bombycis. The quality of core collection exceeded the evaluation criteria and could be a prioritized collection for high efficient and long-term conservation for mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry has tremendous economic importance and cultivated widely across China. In June 2018, branch blight disease was found on mulberry (Morus alba) in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. Based on morphological characteristics and genetic sequences analysis, the pathogenic fungus was identified as Aplosporella javeedii. The pathogenicity was verified with Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this study provides the first report of A. javeedii causing mulberry branch blight in the word. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guangdong, Guangxi and Chongqing are emerging sericulture areas in China where the production of mulberry leaves is huge. In order to identity high quality mulberry leaves that are suitable for healthy products to expand planting, 24 samples from three regions (Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing) in the south of China were quantified for two alkaloids (1-deoxynojirimycin and fagomine) and five phenols (chlorogenic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, etc.) using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Additionally, the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, antioxidant and glycosidase inhibitory activities (hypoglycemic activity) were tested using different assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) to comprehensively evaluate the quality of the mulberry leaves. The contents of DNJ and fagomine ranged from 0.401±0.003 to 5.309±0.036 mg/g and from 0.279±0.031 to 2.300±0.060 mg/g, respectively. The main phenolic constituents were chlorogenic acid, rutin and isoquercitrin, with chlorogenic acid present in the highest concentrations, ranging from 3.104±0.191 to 10.050±0.143 mg/g. The antioxidant activity exhibited a tendency as follows: Guangxi > Guangdong > Chongqing, except for two samples from Chongqing, which showed the highest antioxidant activity. Based on our study, mulberry leaves from Guangdong and Guangxi could be future sources of natural hypoglycemic and antioxidant products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberries ( Morus atropurpurea Roxb.) are rich in beneficial nutrients and secondary metabolites. Dramatic climate differences between western and eastern China lead to differences among the fruiting habits of mulberries grown in these regions. In this study, Xinjiang and Jiangsu, two regions in western and eastern China, respectively, were selected as sites where mulberry fruits (MFs) at different ripening stages were sampled. Their individual components, including both targeted and non-targeted chemical compounds, were detected by rapid ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to compare MFs during ripening from these two regions. Potential biomarkers, which significantly contributed to the differentiation of the samples, were further identified or tentatively identified to determine the effects of ripening stages and regions on the chemical compounds in MFs. The results show that 43 compounds classified into nine different groups were identified in the MF samples from both the Xinjiang and Jiangsu regions. Among the compounds, all anthocyanins, carbohydrates and dihydroflavonols increased while phenolic acids and hydroxycoumarins decreased during ripening. Caffeoylquinic acids and some of anthocyanins could be regarded as important markers for MF ripening, and the accumulation of organic acids differentiated the samples from the two regions. Together, UPLC-QTOF-MS coupled with multivariate statistical analyses may be effective for metabolite profiling and identification of ripening degrees and cultivation regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jialing 20 is an excellent artificial triploid mulberry variety and the main mulberry cultivar in China, which has a very high biological yield. Its twigs are agricultural by-products that need to be exploited urgently. There are many studies on small-molecule metabolites of its twigs but no studies on polysaccharides. To realize the comprehensive utilization of its twigs in non-food biologics, this study extracted Jialing 20 mulberry twigs polysaccharides (MTPs) by hot water and precipitated them by 30%、60%、90% ethanol into three fractions (MTP30、MTP60、MTP90). Then their contents, monosaccharide compositions, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were evaluated. The results showed that they all had good scavenging activities of DPPH free radicals, ABTS free radicals, OH free radicals, and α -glucosidase inhibition. In addition, MTPs all could protect against H 2 O 2 -induced Caco-2 cell damage, and their activities were MTP90 > MTP60 > MTP30. These differences might be closely related to different physical and chemical properties. Although they had similar functional groups, the molecular weight distribution showed a decreasing trend with the increasing ethanol concentration. What's more, MTPs were made up of comparable types of monosaccharides in varying quantities. Polysaccharides with diverse structures have different solubilities in graded ethanol, which may lead to differences in physicochemical properties and biological activities of MTPs. These data suggest MTPs of Jialing 20 could be developed into industrially produced non-food biologics with health benefits, especially to avoid oxidative damage and control blood sugar. At the same time, the different physicochemical properties of the segments precipitated by different ethanol concentrations could be helpful to develop products with different morphologies and types. [Display omitted] • The application potential of mulberry twigs as agricultural byproducts is exploited. • MTPs' optimal bioactive fraction was easily located by fractional precipitation. • MTPs had different physicochemical properties and bioactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensible heat is an important component in surface energy partitioning over the land surface. This paper compared the sensible heat fluxes measured by a large aperture scintillometer system (LAS) and an eddy covariance system (EC) over a rice paddy with a patch of mulberry seedlings in the east China coastal region during the period from 13 September–11 October 2015. During the observation period, easterlies and northerlies prevailed, and 96% easterlies and northerlies had a speed of 0–6 m s-1. The sensible heat fluxes measured by the two systems reflected that the value of HLAS generally was inclined to be larger than HEC with the average difference of 20.30 W m-2, and the uncertainty for two instruments was less than 17 W m-2. Analysis of the average footprint resulted that the mulberry seedling field always had a higher contribution to LAS than that to EC, which could be the reason that HLAS was always larger than HEC. During the days when the contributions of the mulberry seedling field to the two systems were close to each other, the sensible heat flux measurements of the two instruments were similar. The case analysis on typical sunny days showed that there would be larger sensible heat fluxes over the mulberry seedling field than in the rice paddy field especially under larger net radiation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morus alba L. (Mulberry), one of industrial crops, have been widely cultivated in China, mulberry leaves (Folium Mori), one of the main products of Morus alba L., is high yield and rich in nitrogen element, high-value-utilization of mulberry leaves is very important for agricultural economic development. Carbon quantum dots have been attracting extensive attention because of their excellent properties including tunable fluorescence, bio-compatibility, non-toxicity, high water-solubility, and ease of functionalization. Heteroatoms doping is an effective way to improve quantum yield and fluorescence performance of carbon quantum dots. In this work, the self-nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots was prepared from mulberry leaves, a nitrogen-rich, economic value-high and eco-friendly crops products, via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared self-nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots exhibited certain stability, solubility and fluorescence intensity (quantum yield is 9.3%). With the introduction of tetracycline, the efficiency fluorescence quenching was observed, and an obvious color change can also be identified through naked eye. The fluorescence quenching mechanism is induced by internal filtering effect and static quenching. Based on this phenomenon, a rapid, naked-eye, and dual-readout assay for tetracycline detection was constructed and prepared as a fluorescent test paper. The linear range and detection limit of tetracycline were 0.158–40 μM and 158 nM, respectively. Other types of antibiotics, comment ions and chemicals show little influence on tetracycline detection. Furthermore, the constructed dual-readout assay was employed to detect tetracycline in river water with recovery range of 98.6–102.2%, relative standard deviation less than 2.54%. The constructed fluorescence probe show potential application to tetracycline detection in the real water sample. [Display omitted] • The self-N-doped carbon dots were prepared from mulberry leaves by hydrothermal method. • The self-N-doped carbon dots show good linear response to tetracycline. • The quenching mechanism is internal filtering effect and static quenching. • The fluorescent test paper based on the self-N-doped carbon dots was prepared. • The fluorescent test paper can detect tetracycline visually and quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry ( Morus atropurpurea Roxb.) is a popular and desirable fruit that is widely cultivated in China. Despite its popularity, the free volatile chemicals and glycosidically bound volatiles (GBVs) of mulberry have been minimally studied. To this end, we have investigated these compounds in 4 mulberry cultivars via solid phase extraction (SPE) and headspace solid phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A total of 55 free volatile chemicals and 57 GBVs were identified and quantified. In 3 of the cultivars ('YFS,' 'T10,' and 'D10'), the GBVs were found in higher amounts than their free counterparts, corresponding to a ratio of 1.2 to 1.8. The characteristic aromas were determined by their odor activity values (OAVs) and by generating an aroma series (AS). A total of 20 volatile compounds had OAVs ≥ 1.0. In particular, ethyl butanoate, hexanal, ( Z)-3-hexenal ( E)-2-hexenal, ( E)-2-nonenal, and eugenol had relatively high OAVs and were considered to be the key aromas contributing to the mulberry flavor. Consequently, mulberry was characterized by a variety of herbaceous scents having a background of sweet, spicy, fruity, and floral notes. The free volatiles exhibited strong herbaceous notes, whereas the GBVs were responsible for the sweet and spicy qualities of the fruit. Based on our results, 2 cultivars ('YFS' and 'D10') are proposed to be good candidates suitable for the further development of mulberry-based food products due to their complex and desirable aromas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphodes pyloalis Walker is a destructive pest on mulberry trees and poses a significant threat to the sericultural industry in China. Phoxim and chlorfenapyr are two commonly used insecticides in mulberry fields. Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) comprise a multifunctional protein superfamily that plays important roles in the detoxification of insecticides and xenobiotic compounds in insects. However, whether GSTs participate in the tolerance of phoxim and chlorfenapyr in G. pyloalis is still unknown. To better understand the mechanism of insecticide tolerance in G. pyloalis , the enzymatic activity of GSTs was evaluated under phoxim and chlorfenapyr exposure, respectively. GST enzyme activity was significantly increased after 12, 36 and 48 h of phoxim treatment and 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of chlorfenapyr treatment. Subsequently, eighteen GST genes were identified from the larvae transcriptome of G. pyloalis. Among these, ten GpGSTs had GSH-binding sites and fifteen GpGSTs had variable hydrophobic substrate-binding sites. The expression levels of Delta-GpGST and Epsilon-GpGST genes were significantly influenced by phoxim and chlorfenapyr treatment, and by the time post insecticide application. Furthermore, after silencing GpGST-E4 , the mortality rate of G. pyloalis larvae was increased when they were exposed to chlorfenapyr, but it did not significantly alter when the larvae were exposed to phoxim. Our results indicated the vital roles of GpGSTs in the tolerance of insecticides and this action depends on the categories of insecticides. The present study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating insecticide susceptibility and promotes functional research on GST genes in G. pyloalis. [Display omitted] • The roles of GSTs in the insecticides tolerance in a major mulberry pest were studied. • Ten GSTs were identified in Glyphodes pyloalis. • GSTs can be induced when the G. pyloalis exposed to insecticides. • Silencing GSTs resulted in higher mortality after treated with insecticides. • GSTs contributed to the tolerance of G. pyloalis towards insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is the first to investigate resistance levels ofTetranychus cinnabarinus(Boiduval) in mulberry in southwest China. The toxicity and resistance of seven common acaricides, including dichlorvos, phoxim, methomyl, pyridaben, propargite, abamectin and chlorfenapyr, were assayed for seven mulberry field strains of mites along with a laboratory susceptible strain (SS). The results indicated that most field strains exhibited low to moderate levels of resistance. Mengzi and Xiangyun had moderate resistance to phoxim (RR = 31.45 and 26.22, respectively). The Qiaojia, Luliang, Mengzi and Heqing strains showed moderate resistance to chlorfenapyr (RR = 14.98–22.52). Correlation analysis of resistance ratio in seven acaricides indicated that methomyl and abamectin were negatively correlated. The results provide information for acaricide rotations and resistance management of spider mite in mulberry plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Anthocyanins contents and activities of the marc are higher than that of the juice [•] The highest content of mulberry anthocyanins is higher than 25% [•] Morus alba L. dashi is the variety of the highest content and activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the effects of cultivar and harvest month on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves, four major phenolics, including chlorogenic acid (ChA), benzoic acid (BeA), rutin (Rut) and astragalin (Ast), were quantified using an HPLC-UV method. Leaves from six mulberry cultivars, collected from April to October, were analyzed. The antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves was assessed by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HSA) and superoxide radical scavenging activity (SSA) assays. The results showed that the total values of the four phenolic compounds ranged from 2.3 dry weight (DW) to 4.2 mg/g DW, with ChA being the major compound. The mean total phenol (TP) content of the six cultivars ranged from 30.4 equivalents (GAE) mg/g DW to 44.7 GAE mg/g DW. Mulberry leaves harvested in May had the highest TP content. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of mulberry leaves harvested from April to October differed noticeably. In general, Kq 10 and May were considered to be a better cultivar and harvest month concerning phenolic content and antioxidant activity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mulberry (Morus, Moraceae) is widely distributed in the temperate, subtropical, or tropical regions of the world, while there are no conclusive reports on the chemical composition, nutritional value, and antioxidant properties of mulberry cultivars from China. Objective: To investigate chemical properties and to determine proximate nutritive compounds of the eight mulberry cultivars. Materials and Methods: Chemical properties (including moisture, ash, total dry matter, total soluble solids, pH, and total titratable acidity) of the eight mulberry cultivars were investigated. Proximate nutritive compounds (including crude protein, crude fat, mineral elements, total anthocyanins, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and total sugars) were also determined. Results: The results indicated that the moisture contents were 70.0-87.4%, the crude protein contents 1.62-5.54%, and the crude fat contents from 1.23-2.23%. The major fatty acids in mulberry fruits were linoleic acid (C18:2) and palmitic acid (C16:0), 26.40-74.77% and 9.29-22.26%, respectively. Mulberry fruit is also a good source of minerals and the potassium content (521.37-1718.60 mg/100g DW) is especially higher than that of other elements. Compared with other species, the Morus atropurpurea Roxb. had relatively high total polyphenols content (189.67-246.00 mg GAE/100mg) and anthocyanins content (114.67-193.00 mg/100mg). There was a good linear correlation between antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content. Conclusion: Significant differences of the chemical composition, nutritional value, and antioxidant activities among the mulberry cultivars were observed, the Morus atropurpurea Roxb. showed considerable high nutritional value and antioxidant activity which could be developed for functional food that benefits human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of an ethanol extract from the stem bark of Morus wittiorum led to the isolation of five new 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives that were named wittifuran S, wittifuran T, wittifuran V, wittifuran W and wittifuran X (1 – 5). Structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Two new wittifurans and five previously isolated compounds were assayed for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three new flavane glucosides (1-3) were isolated from the leaves of Morus wittiorum. The structures with absolute configuration were determined on the basis of hydrolysis and spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D, and 2D NMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biomass energy is the main energy source in rural China. The low per capita cropland in China makes it impractical to convert cropland to energy crop cultivation as in other countries; development of energy crops must not compete with food and other cash crops for prime cropland. Mulberry planted on marginal lands like land risers, land boundaries and waste slopelands in Ningnan County of China''s southwestern Sichuan Province not only yielded enough leaf biomass to support a production of over 6000t of cocoons in 2005, but also produced large amounts of woody biomass through annual pruning. Mulberry planted on marginal lands would not be replaced by food or other cash crops if cocoon prices drop. The average annual dry matter biomass of pruned mulberry branches is 1.7kg/plant, or approximately 17.0–22.5t/ha, which is high compared to the annual biomass growth of many fast growing trees and perennial herbaceous energy crops. Mulberry prunings exceed household needs for fuelwood because household energy requirements are met with multiple sources. Income from cocoons is the major driving force for the expansion of mulberry planting on marginal land, as lack of incentives has accounted for slow development of firewood in China. Large scale development of marginal land-based planting of mulberry can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, conserve forests and promote biodiversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]