Comprehensive phytochemical profiling and bioactive potential of mulberry ( <i>Morus alba</i> ): Influence of cultivar, climatic conditions, and geographical origin

Abstract BACKGROUND Mulberry ( Morus alba ) fruits are increasingly recognized for their rich phytochemical composition and health‐promoting properties. This study systematically evaluated the effects of cultivar, climate, and geographical origin on the nutritional quality, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of 10 mulberry cultivars grown in Anhui Province, China. RESULTS Significant varietal differences ( P < 0.05) were observed in key quality parameters including titratable acidity (1.10–11.2 g kg −1 ), total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio (10.57–115.19), total flavonoids (0.02–10.86 g RE kg −1 FW), total anthocyanins (0.00–5.85 g CE kg −1 FW), and antioxidant activities (DPPH: 0.30–2.20 g VCE kg −1 FW; FRAP: 0.51–6.06 g VCE kg −1 FW). Notably, ‘ZhongShen’ (‘S10’) and ‘DaShi’ (‘S7’) cultivars exhibited superior antioxidant profiles, with 2.1‐ to 3.8‐fold higher phenolic content compared to ‘White Jade King’ (‘S1’). Climate response analysis showed that high temperatures and sufficient rainfall before fruit ripening significantly increased TSS, JP, TPC, TFC, TAC, VC, FRAP, and DPPH ( P < 0.05), indicating the influence of environmental climate conditions on the accumulation of plant chemicals. Furthermore, geographical variation analysis highlighted HeFei as the optimal production area for ‘ZhongShen’ and ‘DaShi’, with RTT, TFC, TAC, POD, and FW serving as critical markers for terroir authentication. CONCLUSION These findings provide a scientifically validated quality evaluation system, cultivar‐specific climate adaptation strategies, and geographical optimization guidelines for mulberry cultivation. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.