Induction and phenotype analysis of autotetraploids of Morus Mongolica

Morus mongolica holds significant value in medicinal applications, livestock fodder production, and ecological restoration. Although polyploidization is well-documented in plants for enhancing stress tolerance and altering nutrient composition, the specific beneficial traits conferred by genome duplication in M. mongolica have not yet been fully characterized.

Our results demonstrated that a 72 h preculture followed by 72 h of colchicine treatment (30 mg·L^-¹), yielded a tetraploid rate of 25%. Significant differences were observed between diploid and tetraploid plants in plant height, basal diameter, leaf area, and chlorophyll content. Furthermore, tetraploids exhibited significantly higher levels of total sugars, Ca, Se, total phenols, and flavonoids, compared to diploid M. mongolica. Also, tetraploid plants are better equipped to endure extended periods of drought stress, ultimately resulting in improved survival rates, through earlier drought perception and more finely tuned physiological regulation.

This study established an effective tetraploid induction protocol for M. mongolica, characterized the beneficial traits of the induced tetraploids, and thereby lays the foundation for tetraploid induction and breeding.