Journal of Plant Process and Function

Salicylic acid (SA) and Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) as Phyto hormone regulate synthesis of secondary metabolites in a wide range of plant species. The present research designed to evaluate the effect of SA and MeJA elicitation on accumulation of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, Anti-oxidant activity, wet weight and PAL enzyme activity on Stevia plant callus. Results showed that, when elicitors applied to cell culture, phenyl propanoid compounds, antioxidant activity and PAL enzyme activity was increased. Application of MeJA and SA at 100 and 200µM had the highest effect on the production of measured phenyl Propanoides. in both elicitors treated samples, the maximum content of secondary metabolites and PAL enzyme was observed in samples were treated with 100 µM SA+ 100 µM MeJA. A positive correlation between antioxidant activities, total phenol and total flavonoids showed that phenolic compounds may play a key role in antioxidant activity of stevia. Although it’s remarkable that accumulation of Phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and PAL enzyme activity is in positive correlation, that may be sign of key role of PAL on phenolic compounds production. Observed negative correlation of elicitors’ application with callus fresh weight indicates that under real or pseudo stress condition the plant cell try to balance primary and secondary metabolites. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that poly phenolic compounds production, can be strongly changed by application exogenous elicitor compounds.