Molecular mechanism of quality changes in solid endosperm of tender coconut during room temperature storage based on transcriptome and metabolome

Xiaojun Shen; Fei Xiong; Xiaoqing Niu; Shufang Gong; Xiwei Sun; Yong Xiao; Yaodong Yang; Fusheng Chen

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137615

Molecular mechanism of quality changes in solid endosperm of tender coconut during room temperature storage based on transcriptome and metabolome

Food Chem. 2024 Mar 15:436:137615. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137615. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

Authors

Xiaojun Shen¹, Fei Xiong², Xiaoqing Niu³, Shufang Gong³, Xiwei Sun³, Yong Xiao³, Yaodong Yang⁴, Fusheng Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
² College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
³ Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China.
⁴ Coconut Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Wenchang 571339, China. Electronic address: yyang@catas.cn.
⁵ College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: chenfs@mail.hzau.edu.cn.

PMID: 37837686
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137615

Abstract

Tender coconut (TC) is popular around the world. Postharvest storage of TC leads to a decline in its appearance quality and flavor in both liquid endosperm (LE) and solid endosperm (SE). While LE is the most consumed part and remains in a liquid state, SE is the only cellular tissue directly connected to LE and may be the main contributor to flavor deterioration during storage. This study focused on investigating SE changes during TC storage at 25 °C using computed tomographic technology, transcriptome and metabolome analyses. The results showed increased thickness and density, elevated protein and fat contents, and decreased reducing and soluble sugars in SE of TC during storage. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that these changes were mainly associated with the gene transcription levels involved in amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms, along with specific metabolites. These findings offer valuable insights for controlling TC quality during storage.

Keywords: Cocos nucifera Linn.; Computed tomography (CT); Metabolome; Postharvest storage; Solid endosperm; Transcriptome.

MeSH terms

Cocos* / genetics
Cocos* / metabolism
Endosperm* / metabolism
Metabolome
Temperature
Transcriptome