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Methyl jasmonate vapor increases the developmentally controlled synthesis of alkaloids in Catharanthus and Cinchona seedlings
Author(s) -
Aerts Rob J.,
Gisi Daniel,
Carolis Emidio,
Luca Vincenzo,
Baumann Thomas W.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.1994.00635.x
Subject(s) - methyl jasmonate , alkaloid , cinchona , jasmonate , catharanthus roseus , botany , chemistry , biosynthesis , organic chemistry , biology , biochemistry , enzyme , enantioselective synthesis , arabidopsis , mutant , gene , catalysis
Summary Shortly after germination, alkaloids are rapidly synthesized in seedlings of both Catharanthus roseus L.G. Don and Cinchona ledgeriana Moens. The effect of low‐level, atmospheric methyl jasmonate on this developmentally controlled process was studied. In both species, about 1 p.p.m. of methyl jasmonate vapor significantly enhanced alkaloid synthesis during germination, resulting in a doubling of alkaloid content in seedlings. Treatment with methyl jasmonate resulted in increased allocation of alkaloid precursors and in enhanced enzyme activities in alkaloid biosynthesis. The ability of methyl jasmonate to increase alkaloid biosynthesis decreased with age of the seedlings. Susceptibility of the process to methyl jasmonate was confined to a narrow time interval where the developmentally regulated onset of alkaloid synthesis occurred. When methyl jasmonate was applied at later developmental stages, its ability to enhance alkaloid content in the seedlings declined sharply.