Effects of methyl jasmonate and caffeic acid applications on secondary metabolite production in madder (Rubia tinctorum) root cultures

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and caffeic acid (CA) applications on the root growth index and contents of total anthraquinones (AQs), alizarin, purpurin, total phenolic (TP) and individual phenolic compounds in madder (Rubia tinctorum) roots grown in vitro conditions. For this aim, in vitro adventitious roots derived from internode parts were cultured in Murashige and Skoog media containing two different concentrations of MeJA (10 and 100 µM) and CA (1 and 2 mM) for 7 days. Based on the results, MeJA decreased the root growth index compared to control while CA had a positive influence on the root growth of madder. It may be concluded that 2 mM CA+100 µM MeJA combination was the most suitable application providing the highest AQs and phenolics.