Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Gene Expression of Menthol Biosynthesis Pathway In Peppermint (Mentha Piperita L.)

Abstract

Abstract-Peppermint is the major source of menthol rich essential oil and widely cultivated for pharmaceutical purposes. In this study, the effect of exogenous applications of gibberellic acid (GA3) was investigated in the main genes of menthol biosynthesis pathways within a 72 h time period using qRT-PCR. Transcript accumulation for the respective enzymes of early pathway steps relatively remained unaffected whereas expression levels of genes in later stages of oil biosynthesis, including neo-red and m-deh were down-regulated by GA3 treatment which is likely related to the negative feedback of rising GA levels following elicitor application in transcript level of genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis.