**4. Methods used in validation gene function in coconut palm**

Coconut palm has a long life cycle and takes 5–10 years to start reproductive stage. Since that, using gene overexpression or knockout to analyze gene function in its own plant system will take years to observe the traits related to fruits. At present, no stable transformation system has been constructed in coconut palm. The convenient ways to validate gene function in coconut are testing biochemical feature of proteins *in vitro* or transforming gene into a heterologous system, such as *Arabidopsis*, rice, yeast or *Escherichia coli (E. coli)*.
