Integrative Analysis of Transcriptome and Phenolic Compounds Profile Provides Insights into the Quality of Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Fruit

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a tropical fruit highly valued for its unique flavor, nutritional value, and healthpromoting properties. The ripening process of soursop involves complex changes in gene expression and metabolite accumulation, which have been studied using various omics technologies. Transcriptome analysis has provided insights into the regulation of key genes involved in ripening, while metabolic compound analysis has revealed the presence of numerous bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. However, the integration of transcriptome and metabolite compound data has not been extensively explored in soursop. Therefore, in this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and phenolic compound profiles of soursop during ripening. The integration analysis showed that the genes and phenolic compounds were mainly involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathways during soursop ripening. Further, the phenolic compounds Kaempferol 3-Qgalactoside, Procyanidin C1, Procyanidin trimmer C1, and m-Coumaric, as well as the genes Ubiquitin-like protein 5 (UBL5_ARATH), ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease FTSH8 (FTSH8_ORYSJ), Zinc transporter 4 (ZIP4_ARdelonitrile lyase-like (MGL_ARATH), 26s protease regulatory subunit 6A homolog (PRS6_SOLLC), Cytochrome P450 72A13 (C7A13ARATH), Cytochrome P450 84A1 (C84A1_ARATH) and Homoserine O-trans-acetylase (MET2-ORYSJ) were correlated and differentially accumulated and expressed, respectively. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying soursop ripening and may contribute to the development of strategies for improving the nutritional quality and shelf life of this important fruit.