Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Profiles Provide Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms in Modulating Female Flower of Coconut ( Cocos nucifera L.)

Lilan Lu (), Yuan Zhang, Zhiguo Dong, Weibo Yang and Ruoyun Yu
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Lilan Lu: Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China
Yuan Zhang: Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China
Zhiguo Dong: Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China
Weibo Yang: Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China
Ruoyun Yu: Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-34

Abstract: Coconut yield and quality are significantly affected by multiple female inflorescences (MFF), which disrupt flower differentiation balance. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, we compared MFF with normal female inflorescences (NFF) using phenotypic, morphological, physiological, and multi-omics approaches. The results revealed that MFF exhibited altered flower structures. MFF showed elevated iron (Fe), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), proline (Pro), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), abscisic acid (ABA), and jasmonic acid (JA), but reduced molybdenum (Mo), soluble sugar (SS), soluble protein (SP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), indole acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellic acid (GA). We detected 445 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly enriched in ABA, ETH, BR, and JA pathways in MFF compared to NFF. We identified 144 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) primarily in lipids and lipid-like molecules, phenylpropanoids and polyketides, as well as organic acids and derivatives in the comparison of MFF and NFF. Integrated analysis linked these to key pathways, e.g., “carbon metabolism”, “carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms”, “phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis”, “glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism”, “glycolysis/gluconeogenesis”, “pentose and glucuronate interconversions”, “flavonoid biosynthesis”, “flavone and flavonol biosynthesis”, “pyruvate metabolism”, and “citrate cycle (TCA cycle)”. Based on our results. the bHLH137 , BHLH062 , MYB (CSA) , ERF118 , and MADS2 genes may drive MFF formation. This study provides a framework for understanding coconut flower differentiation and improving yield.

Keywords: coconut female flower; transcriptome; metabolome; phytohormones; physiology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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