Establishment of Micropropagation System for Mulberry (Morus alba L.)

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is an economically and ecologically significant woody perennial widely cultivated for sericulture, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceutical applications. However, conventional propagation methods are limited by low multiplication rates, genetic heterogeneity, and vulnerability to pests and diseases. This study aimed to develop a standardised and efficient micropropagation protocol for M. alba to support large-scale, uniform plant production. Explants (nodes, stems, and leaves) from healthy threeyear- old mother plants were subjected to ten surface sterilisation treatments using combinations of Clorox (10%), AgNO₃ (0.1 g/L), Tween 20, fungicides, and antibiotics. The optimised sterilisation method achieved a contamination rate of <5% and a survival rate >90%. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.2 mg/L Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) yielded the highest shoot induction and shoot biomass across nodal and leaf explants. Significant callus formation was observed in nodal and stem explants, while browning -particularly in leaf cultures was mitigated using Woody Plant Medium and citric acid.