The Influence of Methyl Jasmonate on Growth and Caffeic Acid Derivative Contents of In vitro Shoot and Roots in Echinaceae (Echinacea Purpurea)

This study was carried out to determine the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) applications on growth and accumulation of caffeic acid derivatives (CADs) in shoots and roots grown in vitro. For this aim, 28 days old plants obtained from seeds were cultured in 1/2 Murashige and Skoog media containing different concentrations of MeJA (0, 10, 50 and 100 mu M) and plants were harvested in three times at 15 days intervals. After harvest, growth parameters and CADs in shoot and roots were determined, separately. All growth parameters decreased in line with the elevating level of MeJA applications. But MeJA applications increased the CADs both shoots and roots compared to the controls. The highest cichoric acid, the main CAD of Echinacea, was found in shoots and roots applied with 100 mu M MeJA and harvested in 45 days after application.