Assessment of McTPS۲ Gene Expression in German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) under the Influence of Abiotic Elicitors

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is one of the most significant medicinal plants globally, known for its extensive therapeutic applications. Terpenoids, the largest group of secondary metabolites in plants, are synthesized through pathways catalyzed by terpene synthase (TPS), a key enzyme. Elicitors, both biotic and abiotic, play a pivotal role in stimulating physiological responses and enhancing the expression of genes involved in secondary metabolite production. This study investigates the expression of the McTPS۲ gene in German chamomile under the influence of different concentrations of salicylic acid (۰, ۲۵۰, ۵۰۰, ۱۰۰۰, and ۱۵۰۰ μM), methyl jasmonate, and jasmonic acid (۰, ۵۰, ۱۰۰, and ۱۵۰ μM) at various time intervals (۰, ۴, ۸, ۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours post-treatment). This study was conducted in the central laboratory of the Agriculture Faculty of Yasouj University. The elicitors were applied via foliar spraying during the sixth, eighth, and tenth weeks after planting. Leaf samples were collected weekly during late vegetative growth, ۴۸ hours after treatment. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, McTPS۲ gene expression was analyzed using semi-quantitative PCR. The results revealed significant changes in McTPS۲ expression in response to elicitor treatments. The highest expression levels were observed with ۱۵۰ μM methyl jasmonate, ۱۰۰ μM jasmonic acid, and ۱۰۰۰ μM salicylic acid. Notably, McTPS۲ expression peaked at ۸ and ۲۴ hours post-treatment with methyl jasmonate and ۸ hours with jasmonic acid. However, expression levels subsequently declined to control levels at other time points (۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours). These findings demonstrate that all tested elicitors effectively enhanced McTPS۲ gene expression and could be utilized to boost secondary metabolite production in German chamomile.

کلیدواژه ها:

Elicitor ، Secondary metabolites ، Semi-quantitative PCR ، Terpene synthase (TPS)