Analysis of phloem exudate collected from fruit-bearing stems of coconut palm: Palm trees as a source of molecules circulating in sieve tubes

Sieve tubes have been attracting widespread research interest because of their possible role in mediating physiological signals within the whole plant. However, progress in research into the function of sieve tubes has been limited by the low volume of sap available. To overcome this problem, we attempted to collect phloem exudate from tropical coconut palm trees (Cocos nucifera L. cv. Namhom). As much as 3 to 15 mL of exudate per hour was collected from the cut surface of the plant's fruit-bearing stem. Our analyses revealed that the characterized profiles of sugars (sucrose: 339 mM), amino acids (total concentration: 17.1 mM), cations (potassium: 48.3 mM), and proteins (total concentration: 0.1 /-lg /-lL-1) in the exudate were mostly consistent with those of phloem sap or phloem exudate collected from rice plants, castor bean plants, etc. This exudate was assumed to reflect the composition of the phloem sap from the source organs of coconut palm trees. The large volume of exudate collected contributed significantly to the analyses of the various compounds in the stream of sieve tubes.