Salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJa) are prominent phytohormones that are involved in stress reactions. Both compounds may influence the biosynthesis of secondary compounds; however, scientific experiments in vivo are rare and contradictive. This paper reports on a study on the elicitation of volatiles and total phenolics (TPC) by MeJa and SA. The subjects were four Lamiaceae species studied in open field conditions in Budapest (Hungary). According to the results, both elicitors provoked specific responses in each plant species depending on the dosage applied and the parameter studied; 2 mM of SA stimulated essential oil (EO) accumulation in marjoram and peppermint, while in hyssop 0.1 mM was optimal. MeJa proved to be effective only in marjoram and in basil. In marjoram, cis-sabinene hydrate was decreased and in hyssop, isopinocamphone was increased by both dosages of SA. In peppermint, pulegone content was reduced by 2 mM SA, but no significant change of the major components of basil EO was detected. SA was successful in increasing TPC and antioxidant activity (AC) in three of the experimental species, but not in hyssop. In marjoram, only 0.1 mM induced TPC and eventually AC, while in peppermint and basil both dosages of SA were effective. Optimalisation of the treatments is suggested in further in vivo experiments.

Stimulating the production of secondary metabolites by elicitation seems to be an accepted tool in several in vitro cultures. In vivo application of chemical elicitation is, however, much less frequently discussed. The paper summarizes the experimental findings on the effects of jasmonic acid, methyl-jasmonate (MeJa) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on medicinal and aromatic plants. Growth behaviour, yield, stress responses, essential oil (EO) and phenolic compounds are discussed. Exogenous application of MeJa or SA mostly by foliar spraying in concentrations between 10−4 and 4 mM, induced various changes in the plants. In most cases, the elicitation enhanced the volatile accumulation, although the opposite reaction was observed too. Numerous in vivo trials also demonstrated an altered EO composition. Positive effects of treatments on the concentration of phenolic type compounds were described, while in some cases the components exhibited contradictory behavior or no significant changes. Unfortunately, phenolic composition was rarely determined. There is evidence for the dose dependency of the reactions to both elicitors, but systematic studies on this issue are missing. Some results indicate that lower concentrations in replication may be at least as effective as higher ones. Changes in secondary metabolite accumulation may be induced by the elicitors directly or through other physiological processes. The in vivo results should be considered in the complex system of plant ontogenesis, environmental conditions, timing of the treatment, type of the elicitor and concentration. Research results indicate a promising aspect of chemical elicitation in vivo, but further well-designed studies are needed for the individual species.

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Mentha x piperita is a major source of secondary metabolites (SMs), and developing tools to enhance these compounds would be beneficial to meet the increasing demand in the industry. Elicitation by plant hormones became a new strategy to reach this goal. Three experiments in a climatic chamber and two experiments in an open field were conducted with peppermint to explore the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) on the essential oil (EO) content, EO composition, and the total phenolic content (TPC). The treatment was applied for all experiments by spraying the aerial parts of the plants with a dosage of 2 mM MeJa twice. The treatment influenced all the parameters studied in the trials. The volatile content increased by 9–35%; however, in one trial it remained unchanged. The treatment also affected the main compounds of the EO. Menthone increased significantly in two trials while pulegone and menthofuran decreased. In the case of menthol, the change may also be influenced by the phenological and developmental stages of the plants. In the majority of cases, the TPC was also elevated considerably due to the treatments. MeJa treatments may have promising effects in influencing the accumulation of biologically active compounds and the quality of the drug; therefore, further systematic studies are needed to optimize the technology in vivo.