Transcriptome sequencing and metabolome analysis to reveal renewal evidence for drought adaptation in mulberry.

Summary: Mulberry trees are known for their resilience, often thriving in harsh environments where water is scarce. To understand how they survive drought, scientists compared a drought-sensitive variety against a highly drought-tolerant "super" tree. By analyzing the trees' genetic activity and chemical changes during a dry spell, researchers discovered a specific survival mechanism. The drought-tolerant trees shifted their internal metabolism: they slowed down the production of simple sugars (sucrose) and significantly ramped up the production of starch. This ability to switch from making sugar to storing energy as starch appears to be the key to the mulberry’s ability to withstand dehydration.