A change of phenolic acids content in poplar leaves induced by methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate

Abstract

Abstract The contents of seven different phenolic acids such as gallicacid, catechinic acid, pyrocatechol, caffeic acid, coumaric acid,ferulic acid and benzoic acid in the poplar leaves (Populus Simonii× Populus Pyramibalis c. v and Populus deltoids) suffocated by Methyljasmonate (MeJA) and Methyl salicylate (MeSA) were monitored foranalyzing their functions in interplant communications by using high-pressureliquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the contentsof phenolic acids had obviously difference in leaves exposed to eitherMeSA or MeJA. When P.deltoides leaves exposed to MeJA or MeSA, thelevel of gallic acid, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid andbenzoic acid was increased, gallic acid in leaves treated with MeJAcomes to a peak at 24 h while to a peak at 12-d having leaves treatedwith MeSA. When P. Simonii × P. Pyramibalis c. v leaves were exposedto MeJA or MeSA, the level of gallic acid, pyrocatechol and ferulicacid was increased; The catechinic acid and benzoic acid had a littledrop; The caffeic acid and coumaric acid were undetected in bothsuffocated and control leaves. This changed pattern indicated thatMeJA and MeSA can act as airborne signals to induce defense responseof plants.