Multi-omics insights into regulatory control of lipid biosynthesis during oil palm fruit maturation

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a primary tropical crop, and its derived oil is widely used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Although mesocarp development fundamentally dictates oil accumulation and quality, the underlying multi-layered molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we systematically characterized oil palm mesocarp across different developmental stages using a multi-omics approach. Pronounced mesocarp color transitions during maturation were observed, accompanied by a significant increase in lipid content. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses revealed upregulation of pivotal fatty acid biosynthesis genes (accB1, Fabs) and key transcription factors (WRI1, NAC18, AGL9, ERF014) associated with lipid accumulation. Targeted metabolomics and lipidomics identified developmental stage-dependent accumulation of 23 free fatty acids and 619 lipid species. Collectively, these findings delineate the comprehensive molecular regulatory networks, including hormonal regulation, driving lipid biosynthesis during fruit ripening. This provides valuable molecular targets for future breeding strategies to enhance oil yield and quality.