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77-419: An extensive canal system criss-crosses the town, and a good deal of agriculture is done in the outlying areas surrounding the town. In addition there are extensive groves of mulberry bushes grown throughout the district for silk production. The land upon which the town is built is made up of very gentle, rolling fields, and the climate is quite temperate - snow in the winter is possible but rare. Agriculture

154-475: A synthetic population . In horticulture , the term stable hybrid is used to describe an annual plant that, if grown and bred in a small monoculture free of external pollen (e.g., an air-filtered greenhouse) produces offspring that are "true to type" with respect to phenotype; i.e., a true-breeding organism. Hybridization can occur in the hybrid zones where the geographical ranges of species, subspecies, or distinct genetic lineages overlap. For example,

231-463: A bactrian camel and a dromedary . There are many examples of felid hybrids , including the liger . The oldest-known animal hybrid bred by humans is the kunga equid hybrid produced as a draft animal and status symbol 4,500 years ago in Umm el-Marra , present-day Syria . The first known instance of hybrid speciation in marine mammals was discovered in 2014. The clymene dolphin ( Stenella clymene )

308-564: A bear shot by a hunter in the Northwest Territories confirmed the existence of naturally occurring and fertile grizzly–polar bear hybrids . Hybridization between reproductively isolated species often results in hybrid offspring with lower fitness than either parental. However, hybrids are not, as might be expected, always intermediate between their parents (as if there were blending inheritance), but are sometimes stronger or perform better than either parental lineage or variety,

385-515: A considerable seed yield advantage over open pollinated varieties. Hybrid seed dominates the commercial maize seed market in the United States, Canada and many other major maize-producing countries. In a hybrid, any trait that falls outside the range of parental variation (and is thus not simply intermediate between its parents) is considered heterotic. Positive heterosis produces more robust hybrids, they might be stronger or bigger; while

462-509: A cross between a female horse and a male donkey, and the hinny, a cross between a female donkey and a male horse. Pairs of complementary types like the mule and hinny are called reciprocal hybrids. Polar bears and brown bears are another case of a hybridizing species pairs, and introgression among non-sister species of bears appears to have shaped the Ursidae family tree. Among many other mammal crosses are hybrid camels , crosses between

539-509: A degree that none of the originally genetically distinct population remains. In agriculture and animal husbandry , the Green Revolution 's use of conventional hybridization increased yields by breeding high-yielding varieties . The replacement of locally indigenous breeds, compounded with unintentional cross-pollination and crossbreeding (genetic mixing), has reduced the gene pools of various wild and indigenous breeds resulting in

616-407: A different organism is called a chimera . Hybrids are not always intermediates between their parents such as in blending inheritance (a now discredited theory in modern genetics by particulate inheritance ), but can show hybrid vigor , sometimes growing larger or taller than either parent. The concept of a hybrid is interpreted differently in animal and plant breeding, where there is interest in

693-602: A donkey as the father. A variety of mechanisms limit the success of hybridization, including the large genetic difference between most species. Barriers include morphological differences, differing times of fertility, mating behaviors and cues, and physiological rejection of sperm cells or the developing embryo. Some act before fertilization; others after it. In plants, some barriers to hybridization include blooming period differences, different pollinator vectors, inhibition of pollen tube growth, somatoplastic sterility, cytoplasmic-genic male sterility and structural differences of

770-548: A group of about 50 natural hybrids between Australian blacktip shark and the larger common blacktip shark was found by Australia's eastern coast in 2012. Russian sturgeon and American paddlefish were hybridized in captivity when sperm from the paddlefish and eggs from the sturgeon were combined, unexpectedly resulting in viable offspring. This hybrid is called a sturddlefish . The two genera Asymmetron and Branchiostoma are able to produce viable hybrid offspring, even if none have lived into adulthood so far, despite

847-462: A growing demand for natural food colorants, they have numerous applications in the food industry. A cheap and industrially feasible method has been developed to extract anthocyanins from mulberry fruit that could be used as a fabric dye or food colorant of high color value (above 100). Scientists found that, of 31 Chinese mulberry cultivars tested, the total anthocyanin yield varied from 148 to 2725mg/L of fruit juice. Sugars, acids, and vitamins of

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924-439: A long time, both intentionally for purposes such as biological control , and unintentionally, as with accidental escapes of individuals. Introductions can drastically affect populations, including through hybridization. There is a kind of continuum with three semi-distinct categories dealing with anthropogenic hybridization: hybridization without introgression, hybridization with widespread introgression (backcrossing with one of

1001-498: A mate among the species that raised it, instead of the species of its biological parents. Cagebird breeders sometimes breed bird hybrids known as mules between species of finch , such as goldfinch × canary . Among amphibians, Japanese giant salamanders and Chinese giant salamanders have created hybrids that threaten the survival of Japanese giant salamanders because of competition for similar resources in Japan. Among fish,

1078-432: A phenomenon called heterosis, hybrid vigour, or heterozygote advantage . This is most common with plant hybrids. A transgressive phenotype is a phenotype that displays more extreme characteristics than either of the parent lines. Plant breeders use several techniques to produce hybrids, including line breeding and the formation of complex hybrids. An economically important example is hybrid maize (corn), which provides

1155-405: A species, such as between different breeds . Single cross hybrids result from the cross between two true-breeding organisms which produces an F1 hybrid (first filial generation). The cross between two different homozygous lines produces an F1 hybrid that is heterozygous ; having two alleles , one contributed by each parent and typically one is dominant and the other recessive . Typically,

1232-427: A stay at an asylum, and he considered it a technical success. Hybrid (biology) In biology , a hybrid is the offspring resulting from combining the qualities of two organisms of different varieties , subspecies , species or genera through sexual reproduction . Generally, it means that each cell has genetic material from two different organisms, whereas an individual where some cells are derived from

1309-579: A toxic milky sap. Eating too many berries may have a laxative effect. Additionally, unripe green fruit may cause nausea, cramps, and a hallucinogenic effect. Raw mulberries are 88% water, 10% carbohydrates , 1% protein , and less than 1% fat . In a 100-gram (3.5-ounce) reference amount, raw mulberries provide 43 calories, 44% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin C , and 14% of the DV for iron ; other micronutrients are insignificant in quantity. As

1386-498: A year during the monsoon season to a height of 1.5–1.8 m (5–6 ft) and allowed to grow with a maximum of 8–10 shoots at the crown. The leaves are harvested three or four times a year by a leaf-picking method under rain-fed or semi-arid conditions, depending on the monsoon. The tree branches pruned during the fall season (after the leaves have fallen) are cut and are used to make durable baskets supporting agriculture and animal husbandry . Some North American cities have banned

1463-654: Is a multiple , about 2–3 centimetres ( 3 ⁄ 4 – 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches) long. Immature fruits are white, green, or pale yellow. The fruit turns from pink to red while ripening, then dark purple or black, and has a sweet flavor when fully ripe. The taxonomy of Morus is complex and disputed. Fossils of Morus appear in the Pliocene record of the Netherlands . Over 150 species names have been published, and although differing sources may cite different selections of accepted names, less than 20 are accepted by

1540-441: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mulberry See text. Morus , a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae , consists of 19 species of deciduous trees commonly known as mulberries , growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions. Generally, the genus has 64 subordinate taxa, though the three most common are referred to as white, red, and black, originating from

1617-577: Is a hybrid of two Atlantic species, the spinner and striped dolphins . In 2019, scientists confirmed that a skull found 30 years earlier was a hybrid between the beluga whale and narwhal , dubbed the narluga . Hybridization between species is common in birds. Hybrid birds are purposefully bred by humans, but hybridization is also common in the wild. Waterfowl have a particularly high incidence of hybridization, with at least 60% of species known to produce hybrids with another species. Among ducks , mallards widely hybridize with many other species, and

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1694-407: Is a hybridization test widely used in genetics to determine whether two separately isolated mutants that have the same (or similar) phenotype are defective in the same gene or in different genes (see Complementation (genetics) article). If a hybrid organism containing the genomes of two different mutant parental organisms displays a wild type phenotype, it is ordinarily considered that

1771-571: Is a particularly common mechanism for speciation in plants, and is now known to be fundamental to the evolutionary history of plants. Plants frequently form polyploids , individuals with more than two copies of each chromosome. Whole genome doubling has occurred repeatedly in plant evolution. When two plant species hybridize, the hybrid may double its chromosome count by incorporating the entire nuclear genome of both parents, resulting in offspring that are reproductively incompatible with either parent because of different chromosome counts. Human impact on

1848-659: Is also more occasionally done in the livestock and pet trades; some well-known wild × domestic hybrids are beefalo and wolfdogs . Human selective breeding of domesticated animals and plants has also resulted in the development of distinct breeds (usually called cultivars in reference to plants); crossbreeds between them (without any wild stock ) are sometimes also imprecisely referred to as "hybrids". Hybrid humans existed in prehistory. For example, Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans are thought to have interbred as recently as 40,000 years ago. Mythological hybrids appear in human culture in forms as diverse as

1925-451: Is always sterile worker ants (and because ants are haplodiploid , unfertilized eggs become males). Without mating with males of the other species, the queens are unable to produce workers, and will fail to establish a colony of their own. Plant species hybridize more readily than animal species, and the resulting hybrids are fertile more often. Many plant species are the result of hybridization, combined with polyploidy , which duplicates

2002-552: Is derived from Latin hybrida , used for crosses such as of a tame sow and a wild boar. The term came into popular use in English in the 19th century, though examples of its use have been found from the early 17th century. Conspicuous hybrids are popularly named with portmanteau words , starting in the 1920s with the breeding of tiger–lion hybrids ( liger and tigon ). From the point of view of animal and plant breeders, there are several kinds of hybrid formed from crosses within

2079-428: Is often advised, as seedling-grown trees are generally of better shape and health. Mulberry trees grown from seed can take up to ten years to bear fruit. Mulberries are most often planted from large cuttings, which root readily. The mulberry plants allowed to grow tall have a crown height of 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 to 6 ft) from ground level and a stem girth of 10–13 cm (4–5 in). They are specially raised with

2156-533: Is possible nearly the whole year round. As of 2008, a large new Buddhist temple is currently under construction next door to the old temple. It is planned to eventually include the old temple grounds. The east side of town has been experiencing significant growth for several years now, while the older, western part of town is very gradually being abandoned. 30°41′44″N 120°18′23″E  /  30.69556°N 120.30639°E  / 30.69556; 120.30639 This Zhejiang province location article

2233-427: Is that hybrid individuals can form a "bridge" transmitting potentially helpful genes from one species to another when the hybrid backcrosses with one of its parent species, a process called introgression . Hybrids can also cause speciation , either because the hybrids are genetically incompatible with their parents and not each other, or because the hybrids occupy a different niche than either parent. Hybridization

2310-515: Is the proper time to give up on a population that is becoming a hybrid swarm, or to try and save the still existing pure individuals. Once a population becomes a complete mixture, the goal becomes to conserve those hybrids to avoid their loss. Conservationists treat each case on its merits, depending on detecting hybrids within the population. It is nearly impossible to formulate a uniform hybridization policy, because hybridization can occur beneficially when it occurs "naturally", and when hybrid swarms are

2387-627: Is the thinnest paper in the world. It is produced in Japan and made with kozo (stems of mulberry trees). Traditional Japanese washi paper is often created from parts of the mulberry tree. The wood of mulberry trees is used for barrel aging of Țuică , a traditional Romanian plum brandy. According to 1 Maccabees , the Seleucids used the "blood of grapes and mulberries" to provoke their war elephants in preparation for battle against Jewish rebels . A Babylonian etiological myth , which Ovid incorporated in his Metamorphoses , attributes

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2464-653: The Minotaur , blends of animals, humans and mythical beasts such as centaurs and sphinxes , and the Nephilim of the Biblical apocrypha described as the wicked sons of fallen angels and attractive women. Hybridization between species plays an important role in evolution, though there is much debate about its significance. Roughly 25% of plants and 10% of animals are known to form hybrids with at least one other species. One example of an adaptive benefit to hybridization

2541-703: The Rosales order. But while the mulberry is a tree belonging to the Moraceae family (also including the fig , jackfruit , and other fruits), raspberries and blackberries are brambles and belong to the Rosaceae family. Mulberries are fast-growing when young, and can grow to 24 metres (79 feet) tall. The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, and often lobed and serrated on the margin. Lobes are more common on juvenile shoots than on mature trees. The trees can be monoecious or dioecious . The mulberry fruit

2618-472: The sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (female) and the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus (male). When two distinct types of organisms breed with each other, the resulting hybrids typically have intermediate traits (e.g., one plant parent has red flowers, the other has white, and the hybrid, pink flowers). Commonly, hybrids also combine traits seen only separately in one parent or

2695-438: The "suture region". It is at these regions that the subspecies were formed. Other hybrid zones have formed between described species of plants and animals. From the point of view of genetics, several different kinds of hybrid can be distinguished. A genetic hybrid carries two different alleles of the same gene , where for instance one allele may code for a lighter coat colour than the other. A structural hybrid results from

2772-559: The East Asian white mulberry – a species extensively naturalized in urban regions of eastern North America – has a different flavor, sometimes characterized as refreshing and a little tart, with a bit of gumminess to it and a hint of vanilla . In North America, the white mulberry is considered an invasive exotic and has taken over extensive tracts from native plant species, including the red mulberry. Mulberries are used in pies, tarts, wines, cordials , and herbal teas . The fruit of

2849-506: The F1 generation is also phenotypically homogeneous, producing offspring that are all similar to each other. Double cross hybrids result from the cross between two different F1 hybrids (i.e., there are four unrelated grandparents). Three-way cross hybrids result from the cross between an F1 hybrid and an inbred line. Triple cross hybrids result from the crossing of two different three-way cross hybrids. Top cross (or "topcross") hybrids result from

2926-471: The black mulberry (native to southwest Asia) and the red mulberry (native to eastern North America) have distinct flavors likened to 'fireworks in the mouth'. Jams and sherbets are often made from the fruit in the Old World . The tender twigs are semisweet and can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit and leaves are sold in various forms as dietary supplements . Mulberry leaves, particularly those of

3003-524: The butterfly Limenitis arthemis has two major subspecies in North America, L. a. arthemis (the white admiral) and L. a. astyanax (the red-spotted purple). The white admiral has a bright, white band on its wings, while the red-spotted purple has cooler blue-green shades. Hybridization occurs between a narrow area across New England, southern Ontario, and the Great Lakes,

3080-426: The chromosomes. A few animal species are the result of hybridization. The Lonicera fly is a natural hybrid. The American red wolf appears to be a hybrid of the gray wolf and the coyote , although its taxonomic status has been a subject of controversy. The European edible frog is a semi-permanent hybrid between pool frogs and marsh frogs ; its population requires the continued presence of at least one of

3157-547: The chromosomes. Chromosome duplication allows orderly meiosis and so viable seed can be produced. Plant hybrids are generally given names that include an "×" (not in italics), such as Platanus × hispanica for the London plane, a natural hybrid of P. orientalis (oriental plane) and P. occidentalis (American sycamore). The parent's names may be kept in their entirety, as seen in Prunus persica × Prunus americana , with

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3234-403: The color of their dormant buds and not necessarily the fruit color ( Morus alba , M. rubra , and M. nigra , respectively), with numerous cultivars and some taxa currently unchecked and awaiting taxonomic scrutiny. M. alba is native to South Asia , but is widely distributed across Europe , Southern Africa , South America , and North America . M. alba is also

3311-481: The common pheasant and hen golden pheasant ( Chrysolophus pictus ). Spurs are absent in hybrids of the former type, although present in both parents. Hybridization is greatly influenced by human impact on the environment, through effects such as habitat fragmentation and species introductions. Such impacts make it difficult to conserve the genetics of populations undergoing introgressive hybridization . Humans have introduced species worldwide to environments for

3388-400: The crossing of a top quality or pure-bred male and a lower quality female, intended to improve the quality of the offspring, on average. Population hybrids result from the crossing of plants or animals in one population with those of another population. These include interspecific hybrids or crosses between different breeds. In biology, the result of crossing of two populations is called

3465-444: The developing embryo . Some act before fertilization and others after it. Similar barriers exist in plants, with differences in flowering times, pollen vectors, inhibition of pollen tube growth, somatoplastic sterility, cytoplasmic-genic male sterility and the structure of the chromosomes. A few animal species and many plant species, however, are the result of hybrid speciation , including important crop plants such as wheat , where

3542-407: The diverse Heliconius butterflies , but that is disputed. The two closely related harvester ant species Pogonomyrmex barbatus and Pogonomyrmex rugosus have evolved to depend on hybridization. When a queen fertilizes her eggs with sperm from males of her own species, the offspring is always new queens. And when she fertilizes the eggs with sperm from males of the other species, the offspring

3619-413: The doubling of chromosome sets, causing immediate genetic isolation. Hybridization may be important in speciation in some plant groups. However, homoploid hybrid speciation (not increasing the number of sets of chromosomes) may be rare: by 1997, only eight natural examples had been fully described. Experimental studies suggest that hybridization offers a rapid route to speciation, a prediction confirmed by

3696-611: The environment has resulted in an increase in the interbreeding between regional species, and the proliferation of introduced species worldwide has also resulted in an increase in hybridization. This has been referred to as genetic pollution out of concern that it may threaten many species with extinction. Similarly, genetic erosion from monoculture in crop plants may be damaging the gene pools of many species for future breeding. The conservation impacts of hybridization between species are highly debated. While hybridization could potentially threaten rare species or lineages by "swamping"

3773-429: The fact that early generation hybrids and ancient hybrid species have matching genomes, meaning that once hybridization has occurred, the new hybrid genome can remain stable. Many hybrid zones are known where the ranges of two species meet, and hybrids are continually produced in great numbers. These hybrid zones are useful as biological model systems for studying the mechanisms of speciation. Recently DNA analysis of

3850-456: The fruit matures, mulberries change in texture and color, becoming succulent, plump, and juicy, resembling a blackberry . The color of the fruit does not distinguish the mulberry species, as mulberries may be white, lavender or black in color. White mulberry fruits are typically sweet, but not tart, while red mulberries are usually deep red, sweet, and juicy. Black mulberries are large and juicy, with balanced sweetness and tartness. The fruit of

3927-524: The fruit remained intact in the residual juice after removal of the anthocyanins, indicating that the juice may be used for other food products. Mulberry germplasm resources may be used for: During the Angkorian age of the Khmer Empire of Southeast Asia , monks at Buddhist temples made paper from the bark of mulberry trees. The paper was used to make books, known as kraing . Tengujo

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4004-565: The fusion of gametes that have differing structure in at least one chromosome, as a result of structural abnormalities . A numerical hybrid results from the fusion of gametes having different haploid numbers of chromosomes . A permanent hybrid results when only the heterozygous genotype occurs, as in Oenothera lamarckiana , because all homozygous combinations are lethal. In the early history of genetics, Hugo de Vries supposed these were caused by mutation . Genetic complementation

4081-507: The genetic relationships between ducks are further complicated by the widespread gene flow between wild and domestic mallards. One of the most common interspecific hybrids in geese occurs between Greylag and Canada geese ( Anser anser x Branta canadensis ). One potential mechanism for the occurrence of hybrids in these geese is interspecific nest parasitism , where an egg is laid in the nest of another species to be raised by non-biological parents. The chick imprints upon and eventually seeks

4158-630: The genetically "pure" individuals with hybrids, hybridization could also save a rare lineage from extinction by introducing genetic diversity. It has been proposed that hybridization could be a useful tool to conserve biodiversity by allowing organisms to adapt, and that efforts to preserve the separateness of a "pure" lineage could harm conservation by lowering the organisms' genetic diversity and adaptive potential, particularly in species with low populations. While endangered species are often protected by law, hybrids are often excluded from protection, resulting in challenges to conservation. The term hybrid

4235-458: The help of well-grown saplings 8–10 months old of any of the varieties recommended for rainfed areas like S-13 (for red loamy soil) or S-34 (black cotton soil), which are tolerant to drought or soil-moisture stress conditions. Usually, the plantation is raised and in block formation with a spacing of 1.8 by 1.8 m (6 by 6 ft), or 2.4 by 2.4 m (8 by 8 ft), as plant-to-plant and row-to-row distances. The plants are usually pruned once

4312-401: The hybrids are more fit and have breeding advantages over the indigenous ecotype or species. These hybridization events can result from the introduction of non-native genotypes by humans or through habitat modification, bringing previously isolated species into contact. Genetic mixing can be especially detrimental for rare species in isolated habitats, ultimately affecting the population to such

4389-407: The individual parentage. In genetics , attention is focused on the numbers of chromosomes . In taxonomy, a key question is how closely related the parent species are. Species are reproductively isolated by strong barriers to hybridization, which include genetic and morphological differences, differing times of fertility, mating behaviors and cues, and physiological rejection of sperm cells or

4466-400: The loss of genetic diversity . Since the indigenous breeds are often well-adapted to local extremes in climate and have immunity to local pathogens, this can be a significant genetic erosion of the gene pool for future breeding. Therefore, commercial plant geneticists strive to breed "widely adapted" cultivars to counteract this tendency. Familiar examples of equid hybrids are the mule,

4543-543: The mulberry for silkworms; at least as early as 220 AD, Emperor Elagabalus wore a silk robe. English clergy wore silk vestments from about 1500 onwards. Mulberry and the silk industry played a role in colonial Virginia . Mulberry fruit color derives from anthocyanins , which have unknown effects in humans. Anthocyanins are responsible for the attractive colors of fresh plant foods, including orange, red, purple, black, and blue. These colors are water-soluble and easily extractable, yielding natural food colorants . Due to

4620-587: The mulberry's colour to honour their forbidden love. The nursery rhyme " Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush " uses the tree in the refrain, as do some contemporary American versions of the nursery rhyme " Pop Goes the Weasel ". Vincent van Gogh featured the mulberry tree in some of his paintings, notably Mulberry Tree ( Mûrier , 1889, now in Pasadena 's Norton Simon Museum ). He painted it after

4697-452: The number of chromosomes has been doubled. A form of often intentional human-mediated hybridization is the crossing of wild and domesticated species. This is common in both traditional horticulture and modern agriculture ; many commercially useful fruits, flowers, garden herbs, and trees have been produced by hybridization. One such flower, Oenothera lamarckiana , was central to early genetics research into mutationism and polyploidy. It

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4774-420: The only remaining evidence of prior species, they need to be conserved as well. Regionally developed ecotypes can be threatened with extinction when new alleles or genes are introduced that alter that ecotype. This is sometimes called genetic mixing. Hybridization and introgression, which can happen in natural and hybrid populations, of new genetic material can lead to the replacement of local genotypes if

4851-438: The other (e.g., a bird hybrid might combine the yellow head of one parent with the orange belly of the other). Interspecific hybrids are bred by mating individuals from two species, normally from within the same genus. The offspring display traits and characteristics of both parents, but are often sterile , preventing gene flow between the species. Sterility is often attributed to the different number of chromosomes between

4928-573: The parent species), and hybrid swarms (highly variable populations with much interbreeding as well as backcrossing with the parent species). Depending on where a population falls along this continuum, the management plans for that population will change. Hybridization is currently an area of great discussion within wildlife management and habitat management. Global climate change is creating other changes such as difference in population distributions which are indirect causes for an increase in anthropogenic hybridization. Conservationists disagree on when

5005-537: The parent species. Cave paintings indicate that the European bison is a natural hybrid of the aurochs and the steppe bison . Plant hybridization is more commonplace compared to animal hybridization. Many crop species are hybrids, including notably the polyploid wheats : some have four sets of chromosomes (tetraploid) or six (hexaploid), while other wheat species have (like most eukaryotic organisms) two sets ( diploid ), so hybridization events likely involved

5082-506: The parents' common ancestor living tens of millions of years ago. Among insects, so-called killer bees were accidentally created during an attempt to breed a strain of bees that would both produce more honey and be better adapted to tropical conditions. It was done by crossing a European honey bee and an African bee . The Colias eurytheme and C. philodice butterflies have retained enough genetic compatibility to produce viable hybrid offspring. Hybrid speciation may have produced

5159-679: The planting of mulberries because of the large amounts of pollen they produce, posing a potential health hazard for some pollen allergy sufferers. Actually, only the male mulberry trees produce pollen; this lightweight pollen can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, sometimes triggering asthma . Conversely, female mulberry trees produce all-female flowers, which draw pollen and dust from the air. Because of this pollen-absorbing feature, all-female mulberry trees have an OPALS allergy scale rating of just 1 (lowest level of allergy potential), and some consider it "allergy-free". Mulberry tree scion wood can easily be grafted onto other mulberry trees during

5236-637: The point of view of taxonomy , hybrids differ according to their parentage. Hybrids between different subspecies (such as between the dog and Eurasian wolf ) are called intra-specific hybrids. Interspecific hybrids are the offspring from interspecies mating ; these sometimes result in hybrid speciation. Intergeneric hybrids result from matings between different genera, such as between sheep and goats . Interfamilial hybrids, such as between chickens and guineafowl or pheasants , are reliably described but extremely rare. Interordinal hybrids (between different orders) are few, but have been engineered between

5313-407: The reddish-purple color of the mulberry fruits to the tragic deaths of the lovers Pyramus and Thisbe . Meeting under a mulberry tree (probably the native Morus nigra ), Thisbe commits suicide by sword after Pyramus does the same, he having believed, on finding her bloodstained cloak, that she was killed by a lion. Their splashed blood stained the previously white fruit, and the gods forever changed

5390-513: The species most preferred by the silkworm , and is regarded as an invasive species in Brazil and the United States . The closely related genus Broussonetia is also commonly known as mulberry, notably the paper mulberry ( Broussonetia papyrifera ). Despite their similar appearance, mulberries are not closely related to raspberries or blackberries . All three species belong to

5467-470: The term negative heterosis refers to weaker or smaller hybrids. Heterosis is common in both animal and plant hybrids. For example, hybrids between a lion and a tigress (" ligers ") are much larger than either of the two progenitors, while " tigons " (lioness × tiger) are smaller. Similarly, the hybrids between the common pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus ) and domestic fowl ( Gallus gallus ) are larger than either of their parents, as are those produced between

5544-400: The two parental mutant organisms are defective in different genes. If the hybrid organism displays a distinctly mutant phenotype, the two mutant parental organisms are considered to be defective in the same gene. However, in some cases the hybrid organism may display a phenotype that is only weakly (or partially) wild-type, and this may reflect intragenic (interallelic) complementation. From

5621-462: The two species. For example, donkeys have 62 chromosomes , horses have 64 chromosomes, and mules or hinnies have 63 chromosomes. Mules, hinnies, and other normally sterile interspecific hybrids cannot produce viable gametes, because differences in chromosome structure prevent appropriate pairing and segregation during meiosis , meiosis is disrupted, and viable sperm and eggs are not formed. However, fertility in female mules has been reported with

5698-596: The vast majority of botanical authorities. Morus classification is even further complicated by widespread hybridisation , wherein the hybrids are fertile. The following species are accepted: Black, red, and white mulberries are widespread in Southern Europe , the Middle East , Northern Africa , and the Indian subcontinent , where the tree and the fruit have names under regional dialects . Black mulberry

5775-431: The white mulberry, are ecologically important as the sole food source of the silkworm ( Bombyx mori , named after the mulberry genus Morus ), the cocoon of which is used to make silk . The wild silk moth also eats mulberry. Other Lepidoptera larvae —which include the common emerald , lime hawk-moth , sycamore moth , and fall webworm —also eat the plant. The Ancient Greeks and Romans cultivated

5852-417: The winter, when the tree is dormant. One common scenario is converting a problematic male mulberry tree to an allergy-free female tree, by grafting all-female mulberry tree scions to a male mulberry that has been pruned back to the trunk. However, any new growth from below the graft(s) must be removed, as they would be from the original male mulberry tree. All parts of the plant besides the ripe fruit contain

5929-664: Was imported to Britain in the 17th century in the hopes that it would be useful in the cultivation of silkworms. It was much used in folk medicine , especially in the treatment of ringworms . Mulberries are also widespread in Greece , particularly in the Peloponnese , which in the Middle Ages was known as Morea , deriving from the Greek word for the tree ( μουριά , mouria ). Mulberries can be grown from seed, and this

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