Sexual specific multi-omics insights reveal divergent molecular responses of Morus alba L. to waterlogging stress

Sexual specific multi-omics insights reveal divergent molecular responses of Morus alba L. to waterlogging stress | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 28 July 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Sexual specific multi-omics insights reveal divergent molecular responses of Morus alba L. to waterlogging stress Authors : Yaseen Khan , Xue Deng , Ling Feng Miao , and Fan Yang 0000-0002-0049-5459 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175370665.59320914/v1 169 views 122 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Waterlogging stress (WLS), intensified by climate change, poses a significant threat to plant growth and productivity. While general plant tolerance mechanisms to WLS have been explored, sexual specific molecular responses in dioecious trees, such as mulberry ( Morus alba L.), remain poorly understood. This study integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the responses of male and female mulberry plants under WLS. The results revealed that male plants showed a higher number of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with photosynthesis and metabolic resilience. In contrast, female responses to WLS shared substantial overlap with baseline sex-based proteomic features under control (CK) conditions, suggesting more stable metabolic regulation. Both plants exhibited a higher proportion of DEPs (46%) in the chloroplast, indicating a photosynthesis-related response. Transcriptomic data showed that under CK, females had 1,301 upregulated and 675 downregulated genes compared to males, indicating innate transcriptional divergence. When comparing male plants under WLS, we found 678 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were downregulated, suggesting suppression of stress-responsive pathways. Under WLS, females activate more stress-responsive genes, with an enriched pathway in ion transport, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, and signal transduction. Conversely, males showed a weaker transcriptional response and suppression of key metabolic pathways. Notably, the transcript-protein correlation was stronger in females than in males, reflecting more coordinated molecular regulation in females under stress. Ultrastructural observations showed distinct subcellular damage between sexes: females exhibited vacuolar and chloroplast disintegration with a visible nucleus, whereas males displayed chloroplast swelling, plastid proliferation, and a slightly distorted, less-defined nuclear structure. These findings highlight sexual specific molecular and cellular strategies in mulberry under WLS, underscoring the importance of integrating multi-omics approaches to understand stress adaptation in dioecious species. Supplementary Material File (1. morus manuscript.docx) Download 4.51 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 28 July 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords morus alba multi-omics proteome tolerance mechanisms transcriptome waterlogging stress Authors Affiliations Yaseen Khan Hainan University School of Ecology & Environment View all articles by this author Xue Deng Hainan University School of Ecology & Environment View all articles by this author Ling Feng Miao Hainan University School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry View all articles by this author Fan Yang 0000-0002-0049-5459 [email protected] Hainan University School of Ecology & Environment View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 169 views 122 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Yaseen Khan, Xue Deng, Ling Feng Miao, et al. Sexual specific multi-omics insights reveal divergent molecular responses of Morus alba L. to waterlogging stress. Authorea . 28 July 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175370665.59320914/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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