Effect of elicitation of cotton [(Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. Y331B] with methyl jasmonate and ethephon in relation to secondary metabolites

Abstract

Cotton is a versatile plant grown for the fibers and these seeds. However, its culture dating numbers constraints productions including pest attacks. Faced with these attacks certain control methods prove ineffective. The research will be directed on stimulation of the natural defenses of the plant by applying elicitors to find an effective alternative to chemical control. Thus, the study of the influence of two elicitors (ethephon and methyl jasmonate) on the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in the cultivar Y331B showed that the phenolic metabolism is significantly altered after treatment of the leaves by the elicitors. Two elicitors cause an increase in the production of phenolic compounds. However, the methyl jasmonate has the greater accumulation of phenolic compounds with respect to ethephon. Moreover, the co-processing of sheets by MeJA and ethephon has permit to obtain a significant increase in the levels of phenolic compounds.