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Mulberry (Morus) in vitro: state of research and future prospects
The review summarizes current research on mulberry cultivation (Morus spp.) in vitro, focusing on efficiency and limitations of microclonal propagation. It examines the influence of explant type, physiological state of donor plants, sterilization methods, culture medium composition, and hormonal balance on the success of cultivation introduction. It has been shown that the use of juvenile tissues, optimized disinfection, and MS medium enriched with cytokinins (BAP, TDZ) and auxins (NAA, IBA) ensures effective induction, multiplication, and rhizogenesis. The role of rooting protocols, which are often based on half MS medium with the addition of auxins, is emphasized; ex vitro rooting reduces costs and speeds up seedling production. Acclimatization of regenerants is usually successful, although species such as M. nigra show greater variability. The application of temporary immersion systems (TIS) increases multiplication rates, reduces physiological disorders, and facilitates scaling up, making them promising for commercial applications. Cryopreservation methods (vitrification, encapsulation-dehydration approaches, two-stage bud freezing) that ensure long-term preservation of the gene pool were also considered, although the effectiveness of restoration depends on the genotype. The results obtained demonstrate that in vitro systems for mulberry are not only an effective method for rapid propagation and preservation of the gene pool, but also a strategic platform for sustainable agriculture, pharmacological applications, and ecosystem restoration in the context of climate change.
Key words: mulberry (Morus spp.), microclonal propagation, in vitro, culture media, artificial ecosystems, aseptic culture, shoot multiplication, rhizogenesis, acclimatization.
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9358-6678Reference:
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