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.
