Developing Climate Resilience in Mulberry: Genomic Approaches to Enhance Abiotic Stress Tolerance
摘要
Mulberry (Morus spp.) exhibits moderate tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought. However, the extent of natural variation appears insufficient to meet the growing need for resilient mulberry cultivars. Consequently, recent research has emphasized the development of high-quality, stress-tolerant varieties through both conventional and modern approaches. Traditional breeding has played a vital role in generating cultivars that maintain adequate foliage yield under adverse conditions. Complementing these efforts, genetic engineering has enabled the creation of transgenic mulberry lines with enhanced tolerance to various abiotic stresses. Studies have identified key physiological and morphological traits linked to stress resilience, which are essential for sustaining productivity amid climate-related challenges. In addition, the integration of genomic tools and molecular breeding techniques, such as marker-assisted selection, is being actively explored to accelerate genetic improvement. These strategies aim to develop mulberry cultivars that combine high productivity with resilience to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of abiotic stress responses is critical for breeding mulberry varieties equipped with adaptive traits. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of current research focused on enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in mulberry through traditional breeding, genetic engineering, and molecular approaches. The ultimate goal is to ensure sustainable mulberry production under changing environmental conditions, thereby supporting the sericulture industry and related sectors.