Potent effect of jasmonates on indole glucosinolates in oilseed rape and mustard

Abstract

Jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) at nmol doses induced large, sustained, systemic increases (up to 20-fold) in the concentration of specific indole glucosinolates in cotyledons and leaves of oilseed rapes, Brassica napus (3-indolylmethyl) and B. rapa, (4-hydroxy-3-indolylmethyl) and the mustard B. juncea (both). Aliphatic and aromatic glucosinolates in the mustards, B. juncea (allyl) and Sinapis alba ( p-hydroxybenzyl) were unaffected by JA. Treatment with JA and MeJA had the same effect on glucosinolates in these species as insect feeding or mechanical wounding. Other substances that may influence wound-, disease-, or stress-induced responses in plants, e.g. abscisic acid, indoleacetic acid, cytokinins, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, salicylic acid, sucrose, calcium, EGTA, chitin, chitosan and gibberellic acid had no detectable effect on indole glucosinolates. The potency and specificity of the jasmonates indicate a close relationship between JA and/or MeJA and wound-induced changes in indole glucosinolate metabolism in Brassica species.