Abstract
The effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) vapors on content of phenolic compounds: free phenolic acids, total quercetin, and total phenolics in etiolated buckwheat seedlings were studied. The data presented show that low concentration of MJ (10<sup>-8</sup> M) had no influence on <em>trans</em>-cinnamic acid (CA), but stimulated the accumulation of chlorogenic acid in hypocotyls and cotyledons of buckwheat seedlings. A moderate dose of MJ (10<sup>-6</sup> M) did not change the level of chlorogenic acid in the hypocotyls and cotyledons, but CA synthesis was promoted in cotyledons, whereas in hypocotyls no significant effect was found. Highest concentration of MJ (10<sup>-4</sup> M) caused small decline of CA in hypocotyls, but large stimulation of the acid production in cotyledons was noted. MJ had stimulatory effect on caffeic acid forming, but inhibited synthesis of vanillic acid in hypocotyls and cotyledons. Lowest concentration of MJ (10<sup>-8</sup> M) elicited accumulation of quercetin glycosides in both studied tissues of buckwheat seedlings, however at higher doses (10<sup>-8</sup> and 10<sup>-4</sup> M) did not affect the flavonol level. The obtained results suggest that nonequivalent influence of methyl jasmonate on the phenolics composition can be a result of various mechanisms of MJ uptake, transforming and/or its translocation in buckwheat hypocotyls and cotyledons. Decline of anthocyanins level in buckwheat hypocotyls caused by MJ cannot be explained by enhanced accumulation of quercetin glycosides or free phenolic acids, but probably by synthesis of other unknown phenolic compounds.
Highlights
Phenolic compounds are the main class of secondary metabolites in plants
Quercetin rutoside, is the major flavonoid in buckwheat tissue (Couch et al 1946; Matsui et al 2008) The results of our studies show that the level of quercetin released from its glycosides was slightly higher in cotyledons than in hypocotyls of common buckwheat
This study has demonstrated that the effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on phenolic acids in buckwheat seedlings depended on the concentration of used MJ vapors, and analysed tissue
Summary
Phenolic compounds are the main class of secondary metabolites in plants. Several thousand such compounds have been identified in various plant species. The phenolic compounds are important for plant due to their various biological functions including UV protection, pollen tube growth, antimicrobial activity, and insect resistance (Steyn et al 2002; Winkel-Shirley 2002). Simple phenolic acids such as trans-cinnamic and p-coumaric acids are precursors for more complex compounds including flavonoids, tannins, lignins and anthocyanins (Winkel-Shirley 2002). Chlorogenic acid (5’-caffeoylquinic acid) is the most important cinnamic acid derivative and sometimes is the predominant single phenolic compound in plants (Hahlbrock and Scheel 1989)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
