*2.1. Study Site and Materials*

The study was conducted from 24 March to 9 May 2021 at the *Morus alba* L. cultivation base in Mawuzhai village, Laiji town, Xinmi city, Henan province (113◦29 E, 34◦28 N). Mawuzhai village is located in an area with a sub-tropical monsoon climate characterized by distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, humid air, and yellow–brown soil. The 3-year-old healthy and vigorous vegetable and fruit mulberry trees were chosen as the mother plants for cuttings. In March of the same year, disease-free, strong, and full-budded 1-year-old branches were cut from the mother plants. One week before the cuttings, an 800-fold dilution of a 50% wettable powder of carbendazim (Lanfeng Bio-Chemical Co., Ltd., Xuzhou, China) was uniformly sprayed on the substrate, followed by drying in the sun.
