# Combined Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Explains the Differences in Pulp Color in Jackfruit

## TL;DR

This study explains how different jackfruit pulp colors arise from variations in genes and chemicals like flavonoids and carotenoids.

## Contribution

The study integrates transcriptomic and metabolomic data to identify key genes and compounds responsible for pulp color variation in jackfruit.

## Key findings

- Key flavonoids and carotenoids like naringenin chalcone and zeaxanthin are linked to specific pulp colors in jackfruit.
- Genes such as PAL, C4H, and PSY are differentially expressed and associated with pigment biosynthesis in different jackfruit cultivars.
- Phlorizin and lutein are key to yellow pulp, while apigenin and violaxanthin dipalmitate are linked to orange pulp.

## Abstract

The pulp color of jackfruit reflects variations in its nutritional composition and influences market preference. We investigated the mechanism underlying pulp coloration through an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of three jackfruit cultivars—light yellow “THA”, yellow “GTM”, and orange “YNH”. Twenty‐five differentially accumulated flavonoids and 32 differentially accumulated carotenoids were identified. Naringenin chalcone, eriodictyol, taxifolin, zeaxanthin, and lutein were identified as the key flavonoids and carotenoids associated with the light‐yellow tone of THA pulp. Phlorizin and lutein were associated with the yellow tone of GTM pulp, whereas apigenin, luteolin, zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin dipalmitate were the key pigments regulating the orange tone of YNH pulp. Differentially expressed genes involved in flavonoid and carotenoid biosynthesis included PAL, C4H, 4CL, F3H, FLS, ANS, ANR, PSY, PDS, ZDS, LCYE, LUT5, ZEP, and VDE. This study provides a foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying jackfruit pulp coloration at transcriptional and metabolic levels.