A Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) Provides New Insights into Its Forage and Papermaking Usage

Physiological responses of Broussonetia papyrifera to manganese stress, a candidate plant for phytoremediation

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera; PM) is an excellent and extensive type of roughage in Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PM silage on the milk production, apparent digestibility, antioxidant capacity, and fecal bacteria composition in Holstein dairy cows. Forty-five lactating Holstein dairy cows with a similar milk yield and parity were selected and randomly assigned to three groups. The control group was fed a non-PM silage diet, and the PM-treated groups were fed 4.5 and 9.0% PM silage supplementary diets for 28 days. Then, treatment groups were fed diets containing 13.5 and 18.0% PM silage for the next 28 days, respectively. PM silage increased the milk urea nitrogen and decreased the somatic cell count (p < 0.05), but did not affect the dry matter intake, milk yield, apparent digestibility, and energy balance of dairy cows. PM silage can enhance the blood total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and immune globulin content (p < 0.05). The PM silage significantly decreased the relative abundance of the genera Ruminococcaceae UCG-013 and Tyzzerella-4 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, PM silage enhanced the antioxidant capacity and immunity of dairy cows, but did not influence the milk yield, dry matter digestibility, and fecal bacteria composition.

Effects of Paper Mulberry Silage on the Milk Production, Apparent Digestibility, Antioxidant Capacity, and Fecal Bacteria Composition in Holstein Dairy Cows.

BACKGROUND Feed shortage is a factor restricting animal production in the tropics, therefore how to use natural woody plant resources as animal feed is an important strategy. RESULTS Under the dual stress of an anaerobic and acidic environment, the microbial response during the fermentation of paper mulberry (PM) silage was found to be sensitive. The Gram-negative bacteria and mould died, and the dominant microbial community rapidly shifted to Gram-positive bacteria, resulting in a large reduction in microbial diversity and abundance. Exogenous bran additives interfered with the stress effects of the woody silage environment. Wheat bran (WB) accelerated the response of microorganisms to the anaerobic stress, and lactic acid bacteria became the dominant microbial community, thereby enhancing the lactic acid fermentation of silage, affecting the metabolic pathways of microorganisms, and improving the flavour and quality of the silage. Addition of rice bran made Enterobacter and Clostridium species quickly respond to the stress of the silage environment and become the predominant bacterial groups. In particular, anaerobic and spore-forming Clostridium species showed a strong tolerance to the silage environment, leading to butyric acid fermentation and protein degradation of the silage, and reducing its fermentation quality. CONCLUSION The PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology accurately revealed the microbial co-occurrence network and fermentation mechanism of silage. Our results indicate that PM can be used in combination with WB to prepare high-quality silage for animal production. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microbial community structure, co-occurrence network and fermentation characteristics of woody plant silage.

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera, PM) is high protein but unutilized as a feed source. The study explores the different parts (leaf, stem, and whole plant) of PM chemical composition, silage fermentation, and in vitro and in situ digestibility, aiming to give some guidelines to PM usage as feed. The result showed that the leaf had a higher fresh weight than the stem (p < 0.05). The dry matter contents of the three groups had no differences. The highest crude protein, ether extract, water-soluble carbohydrate, ash, calcium, phosphorus, amino acid contents, and butter capacity were observed in the leaf (p < 0.05). The stem had the highest (p < 0.05) neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin contents. After ensiling, the stem silage had the lowest pH value, ammonia nitrate (NH3-N), lactate, acetate, and propionate (p < 0.05). The leaf silage had the highest pH value (p < 0.05). The lactate, acetate, and propionate in the leaf and whole plant silage had no difference. The butyrate was not detected in all silage. The in vitro and in situ digestibility experiments showed the leaf had the highest digestibility (p < 0.05), which could produce more volatile fatty acids and have a higher effective digestibility. These results allow a greater understanding of PM to be used as a feedstuff.

Effects of Different Parts on the Chemical Composition, Silage Fermentation Profile, In Vitro and In Situ Digestibility of Paper Mulberry.

Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico from the Government of Chile 	
1080061 
1120175 
National Science Council, Taiwan 	
NSC-102-2621-B-002-007

/pdf/sex-distribution-of-paper-mulberry-broussonetia-papyrifera-1d0u4fma0u.pdf

Sex Distribution of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) in the Pacific.

Paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Her. ex Vent. (Moraceae), a dioecious species, was transported by humans from Taiwan to the islands of Remote Oceania. Its introduction and cultivation in Remote Oceania was intentional due to its cultural importance as a fiber source for barkcloth textiles. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic diversity and structure of paper mulberry populations within Remote Oceania in order to infer dispersal patterns that may reflect past human interaction among island groups. We present the integrated analysis of 380 samples (313 contemporary and 67 herbarium specimens) collected in Near and Remote Oceania. Genetic characterization was based on a set of ten microsatellites developed for B. papyrifera and complemented with the analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ITS-1 sequence, a sex marker and the chloroplast ndhF-rpl32 intergenic spacer. Microsatellite data identify a total of 64 genotypes, despite this being a clonally propagated crop, and show three major dispersal hubs within Remote Oceania, centered on the islands of Fiji, Tonga, and Pitcairn. Of 64 genotypes identified, 55 correspond to genotypes associated to female-sexed plants that probably descend from plants introduced by the prehistoric Austronesian-speaking voyagers. The ratio of accessions to genotypes between herbarium and contemporary samples, suggests recent loss of genetic diversity. In addition to the chloroplast haplotypes described previously, we detected two new haplotypes within Remote Oceania both originating in Taiwan. This is the first study of a commensal species to show genetic structuring within Remote Oceania. In spite of the genetic bottleneck, the presence of only one sex, a timespan of less than 5000 years, and asexual propagation of this crop in Remote Oceania, we detect genetic diversity and regional structuring. These observations suggest specific migration routes between island groups within Remote Oceania.

/pdf/human-mediated-translocation-of-pacific-paper-mulberry-2iiaaads9m.pdf

Human mediated translocation of Pacific paper mulberry [Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. (Moraceae)]: Genetic evidence of dispersal routes in Remote Oceania.

A funding source has been omitted from the published article. The correct Financial Disclosure is: This project was funded by Fondecyt grants 1080061 and 1120175 from the Government of Chile to AS, and National Science Council, Taiwan Grant NSC-102-2621-B-002-007 to KFC. CSC received support from the Office of World Austronesian Studies, Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Affairs, Ministry of Education, Taiwan. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

/pdf/correction-sex-distribution-of-paper-mulberry-broussonetia-2cncjzn8se.pdf

Correction: Sex Distribution of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) in the Pacific.

Premise of the study: Broussonetia papyrifera (Moraceae) is native to Asia and is used as a medicinal plant and as a source of fiber for making paper. It was dispersed into the Pacific region as a fiber source for making nonwoven textiles (barkcloth). Microsatellites were developed to trace the human-mediated dispersal of this species into the Pacific region. Methods and Results: A set of 36 microsatellites was isolated and initially assayed on 10 accessions to assess polymorphism. We found that 20 markers were polymorphic, with the number of alleles per marker ranging from four to 35 in 70 accessions genotyped from three Asian populations. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.04 to 0.85 and from 0.19 to 0.94, respectively. These markers were tested in four Moraceae species and one Rosaceae species. Conclusions: These markers will be useful for the assessment of genetic diversity in B. papyrifera. They show low transferability to other species tested.

https://bioone.org/journals/Applications-in-Plant-Sciences/volume-5/issue-8/apps.1700044/Characterization-of-Microsatellite-Markers-for-iBroussonetia-papyriferai-Moraceae/10.3732/apps.1700044.pdf

Gabriela Olivares

Papers

Sex Distribution of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) in the Pacific.

Human mediated translocation of Pacific paper mulberry [Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. (Moraceae)]: Genetic evidence of dispersal routes in Remote Oceania.

Correction: Sex Distribution of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) in the Pacific.

Characterization of Microsatellite Markers for Broussonetia papyrifera (Moraceae)