MGCPdb, a collective resource for mulberry genome size, chromosome number, and ploidy.

Abstract

Mulberry is a critical economic tree with a high diversity of germplasm resources. However, the lack of primary data on genome size, chromosome number, and ploidy for this species limits the exploitation of mulberry resources. In this study, the genome size of 323 mulberry germplasm resources were examined using flow cytometry and chromosome numbers analyzed. The genome sizes ranged from 0.36 to 3.08 Gb, and seven different ploidies of mulberry germplasm resources were identified, with chromosome numbers ranging from 14 to 308. Correlation analysis indicated that genome size (1C) and chromosome number positively correlated. Here, the genome size, chromosome number, and ploidy database MGCPdb (https://mgcpdb.biodb.org) were constructed for mulberry plants, which contains 323 core mulberry germplasm resources and provides raw data of flow cytometry analysis, genome size, and chromosome count. This database is significant and valuable for mulberry genome evolution, polyploidy breeding, and genetic diversity research.