Effect of methyl jasmonate on product synthesis from shoot culture of Gyrinops walla.

Abstract

Gyrinops walla, known as “WallaPatta”which,produce a resinous compound Agarwood, is an endemic plant to Sri Lanka. The production of agarwood occurred as a response to external damage. In-vitro propagation of G. walla has been identified as a better alternative for sustainable harvesting and agarwood production due to the rare presence of natural agarwood and its high price. The present study was carried out to identify the effect of different concentrations of Methyl Jasmonate as an elicitor on the growth and the product synthesis of G.walla under solid cultures and identify the correct harvesting time after application of Methyl Jasmonate for maximum product synthesis from shoot cultures of G. walla under in-vitro conditions. Gyrinops walla shoots were grown on full-strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L of BAP, 0.1 mg/L of IBA. Approximately 0.5g of G. walla shoots were cultured in one unit for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12th week, all treated and control samples were harvested and freeze-dried. According to Thin Layer Chromatography results most of the compounds produced at 1 µmol Methyl Jasmonate treatment had thicker bands compared to all the other treatments. Moreover 0.5g of G.walla shoots was cultured in 1 µmol Methyl Jasmonate applied MS medium and growth measurements were obtained weekly intervals until 6 weeks. Thin Layer Chromatography results revealed that the samples harvested at 5th and 6th week weeks had higher number of chemicals than other weeks. Furthermore similar compounds representing bands at similar retention time was present in 6th week treatments and agarwood extract than other weeks. Thin Layer Chromatography fingerprint profile proved the presence of similar phytochemicals in shoot cultures and agarwood extracts. Therefore, these results revealed that there is more possibility to producing similar compounds that are present in natural agarwood through shoot cultures with Methyl Jasmonate.