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Kopyor versus macapuno coconuts: are these two edible mutants of Southeast Asia the same?

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Kopyor and macapuno are two coconut mutants from Southeast Asia that are often described erroneously or interchangeably mismatched due to a lack of research, so future studies are encouraged.

Abstract

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.; Arecaceae), a widely distributed plant with popular culinary applications, especially of the endosperm, has several nutritional and medicinal benefits. Two coconut mutants are widely recognized in Southeast Asia, namely kopyor and macapuno, specifically in Indonesia and Philippines, respectively. Kopyor coconut is known for its brittle solid endosperm while macapuno coconut is known for its gelatinous solid endosperm. Both mutant types have many other synonyms in other countries. Over many decades, the biology of macapuno coconut, including endosperm anatomy, histology, cytology, physiology, and genetics have been described, while kopyor coconut is still understudied. However, some literature and websites erroneously describe kopyor as macapuno coconut, or consider them interchangeably, which is an unintentional consequence of insufficient scientific research on these coconut mutants. Additionally, in Indonesia, there is another local mutant in Banten called wax coconut (“kelapa lilin”) that some researchers claim as the actual Indonesian macapuno coconut due to its strong resemblance to kopyor coconut. Unfortunately, wax coconut is not only understudied, it is rarely documented. Additional evidence of their differences, in terms of morphological, biochemical and genetic characteristics, is needed. Moreover, clear documentation will also be needed for a better comparison. Understanding the differences between kopyor and macapuno coconuts will not only help to further clarify their scientific description in the literature, but will also guide locals, researchers, and industries to characterize similar mutants, if found in specific regions, for future study and bioprospecting.

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Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

We thank Enzo Pinga from the Philippines for providing the picture of macapuno, and Jalexander Hongco for his permission to use the picture from Lunti Garden Philippines website (lunti.ph). We are grateful to Ibu Helena Sutisna (Rumah Kopyor, Bandung, Indonesia) for discussion and help to find the wax coconut (despite its rarity), and for selling us the kopyor coconuts, which is considered to be quite an uncommon commodity to find. We are grateful to Ibu Silviana Salim from Banten, Indonesia, for providing the picture of wax coconut and some background information regarding the location where it was found. We are also grateful to Ibu Tina Handimuljana (Rumah Tjoen, Banten, Indonesia) for discussion and her generosity for sharing information (from herself and gathered from locals) about the wax coconut and for her patience and willingness to find us a wax coconut (although, after 3 months, no wax coconuts were found on her coconut farm). Finally, we thank the director of the Genbinesia Foundation, Heri Santoso, for sharing his ethnobotanical understanding of some of the observations made in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biotechnology, Genbinesia Foundation, Jl. Swadaya Barat no. 4, Gresik Regency, 61171, Indonesia

    Adhityo Wicaksono

  2. Division of Botany, Genbinesia Foundation, Jl. Swadaya Barat no. 4, Gresik Regency, 61171, Indonesia

    Reza Raihandhany

  3. Independent Researcher, Ikenobe 3011-2, P. O. Box 7, Kagawa-ken, 761-0799, Japan

    Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

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  1. Adhityo Wicaksono
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Correspondence to Adhityo Wicaksono, Reza Raihandhany or Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva.

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Supplementary Information

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Supplementary file1 S1 Young kopyor coconut (3-4 months old) being shaken. The audio sounds like a heavy noise of solids in an abundance of coconut water, which indicates that there are some solids in the coconut water. (MOV 2076 KB)

Supplementary file2 S2 Mature kopyor coconut (6-7 months old) being shaken. The audio sounds like a sharper noise of solids in the fewer amount of coconut water, indicating more solids in the coconut water. Of note (not shown in the video), a young normal coconut does not make even the slightest sound when shaken because it is full of coconut water. (MOV 2838 KB)

Supplementary file3 S3 Mature normal coconut (6-7 months old) being shaken. The audio sounds like a clear water being shaken, indicating that no solids are mixed in the coconut water. (MOV 3786 KB)

Supplementary file4 (XLSX 14 KB)

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Wicaksono, A., Raihandhany, R. & Teixeira da Silva, J.A. Kopyor versus macapuno coconuts: are these two edible mutants of Southeast Asia the same?. Planta 254, 86 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-021-03740-y

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