The effects of methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid on the production of secondary metabolites in organ culture of Ziziphora persica

Abstract

Ziziphora persica (Lamiaceae) has been used as infusions and decoctions in traditional medicine for various purposes such as sedative, carminative, and stomach pain. In the proliferation stage of shoot culture, MS medium was treated with different concentrations of methyl jasmonate (MJ) and salicylic acid (SA) (50, 100 and 150 µM) either individually or in combination with various concentrations (25 µM SA + 25 µM MJ, 25 µM SA + 50 µM MJ, 50 µM SA + 25 µM MJ, 50 µM SA + 50 µM MJ). In the present study, we investigated the quantitative changes in pigments, growth parameters, and volatile compounds in the shoot culture of nodal segments. Volatile compounds were extracted and subsequently analyzed using GC-mass spectrometry. The highest amounts of chlorophyll a and carotenoids were detected in SA25 + MJ25 treatment, whereas chlorophyll b was highly found in the control treatment. Besides, significant amounts of detected volatile compounds belonged to alkane hydrocarbons, whereas mono and sesquiterpenes were found in low amounts. SA show higher toxic effect than MJ and affective than synergic use of elicitors on the organ culture of Z. persica. Elicitors can increase volatile compounds in different pattern compared to the previously in vivo production.