Influence of Methyl Jasmonate on Production of Ecdysteroids from Hairy Roots of Silene linicola C.C. Gmelin

Abstract

Hairy roots cultures are being considered as a promising system for producing valuable second metabolites. These genetically transformed root cultures are characterized by high growth rate, genetic stability and growth in hormone free media. Using A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation method (strain А4), we have obtained hairy roots cultures of the ecdysteroid-containing species of Silene linicola. HPLC analysis of the sample studied revealed that 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), turkesterone and polypodin B were synthesized under the specified experimental conditions. Application of methyl jasmonate at a concentration of 100 μM resulted in stimulation of 20E biosynthesis (up 74%) after three days of cultivation and turkesterone up to 35% at six days. It was noted that total ecdysteroid content in sample tested varied: turkesterone from 25 to 60%, and 20E from 8 to 30%. At the same time, the level of 20E biosynthesis decreased from 0.023 to 0.014% in the samples without methyl jasmonate treatment. Hairy roots lines of S. linicola with different responses to the presence of elicitors in the culture medium can be used to study the pathways of ecdysteroid biosynthesis.