Change in Secondary Metabolites and Expression Pattern of Key Rosmarinic Acid Related Genes in Iranian Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) Ecotypes Using Methyl Jasmonate Treatments

Abstract

The medicinal herb, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), which is high in rosmarinic acid (RA), has well-known therapeutic value. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on RA content, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC), as well as changes in expression of their biosynthesis-related key genes (MoPAL, Mo4CL, and MoRAS) in Iranian lemon balm ecotypes, as first reported. Our results revealed that MeJA doses significantly increase the RA content, TPC, and TFC in both ecotypes compared with the control samples. Additionally, the higher expression levels of MoPAL, Mo4CL, and MoRAS following treatment were linked to RA accumulation in all treatments for both Iranian lemon balm ecotypes. After 24 h of exposure to 150 µM MeJA concentration, HPLC analysis showed that MeJA significantly increased RA content in Esfahan and Ilam ecotypes, which was about 4.18- and 7.43-fold higher than untreated plants. Our findings suggested that MeJA has a considerable influence on RA, TPC, and TFC accumulation in MeJA-treated Iranian M. officinalis, which might be the result of gene activation from the phenylpropanoid pathway. As a result of our findings, we now have a better understanding of the molecular processes behind RA production in lemon balm plants.

Methyl Jasmonate Induces Genes Involved in Linalool Accumulation and Increases the Content of Phenolics in Two Iranian Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Ecotypes

“…In other words, our results suggest that 150 µM MeJA enhances the quantity of linalool present in various ecotypes of coriander, and that these elicitors have an impact on the expression patterns of genes involved in linalool production. Moreover, our results are consistent with those of other researchers [ 23 , 41 , 42 ] and imply that linalool levels in coriander plants vary according to genotype and dosage. Some research showed that the high levels of linalool seen following treatments with 100–150 µM MeJA represented the ideal dosage for treating various plant families [ 38 , 39 , 42 ].…”

“…Moreover, MeJA treatments boosted the TFC levels in the Zanjan ecotype, which were around 1.70, 2.37, 3.73, and 2.66 times higher than the levels in untreated plants ( Figure 3 B). These findings support the findings of other studies [ 23 , 41 ] and demonstrate that TPC and TFC variations in coriander leaves depend on ecotype. Additionally, in all ecotypes under consideration, TPC values in both untreated and all treated leaves were greater than the TFC values, which is consistent with previous results [ 23 , 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Linalool and other bioactive substances may be increased in a variety of plants as a result of MeJA’s induction of LINS and TRPS enzyme activities, according to certain studies [ 23 , 43 ]. The present study’s data suggest that MeJA may have had an impact on the rise in rutin quantity under 100 to 150 M treatment [ 39 , 41 , 42 ]. Our findings show that the administered MeJA had a discernible impact on both ecotypes metabolic traits.…”

“…The TPS and LIS genes of numerous plants, including Citrus sinensis [ 29 ], Lathyrus odoratus [ 30 ], Dendrobium officinale [ 31 ], and Camellia sinensis , have been discovered and functionally described [ 32 ]. Recent years have seen a plethora of research examining the impact of biological and non-biological inducers of the production of secondary metabolites, such as ultraviolet (UV) irradiation [ 33 ], trans-cinnamic acid [ 34 ], salicylic acid (SA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. It was shown that jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (its methyl ester) participate in signal transmission in plants, and they may regulate defense genes.…”

“…It was shown that jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (its methyl ester) participate in signal transmission in plants, and they may regulate defense genes. Additionally, they are often used exogenously in plants to promote the production of secondary metabolites [ 35 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”