The Effect of Methyl Jasmonate on Monoterpene Composition of the Essential Oil in Shoot Cultures of Sautreja khuzistanica Jamzad

Background and Objective: Numerous monoterpenes are present in the essential oil of Sautreja khuzistanica Jamzad. In this study, the effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) applied in the LS medium of shoot cultures of S. khuzistanica on individual monoterpene percentages were evaluated.

Results: Our results showed that 44 h after elicitation with 250 and 500 µM MJ, several monoterpenes including α-Pinene, β-Pinene, γ-Terpinene, α-Terpinene, β-Myrcene, p-Cymene, α-Thujene, Carvone significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.001). Linalool significantly decreased by treatment with 250 µM MJ. A significant increase in carvacrol and α-Terpineol concentration was observed in 250 and 500 µM MJ treatments (p ≤ 0.001). Cis-sabinene hydrate concentration was significantly increased by treatment with 500 µM MJ (p ≤ 0.001).

Discussion and Conclusion: Changes in individual monoterpene percentages were observed in MJ treated versus control plants. The results of this study indicated that MJ application may affect essential oil monoterpene composition. The information is beneficial to our further investigation and understanding of MJ elicitation on the essential oil quality, and it may be also helpful to the manipulation of the essential oil composition.