فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

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 McTPS2 gene in German chamomile under the influence of different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 μM), methyl jasmonate, and jasmonic acid (0, 50, 100, and 150 μM) at various time intervals (0, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 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, 48 hours after treatment. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, McTPS2 gene expression was analyzed using semi-quantitative PCR. The results revealed significant changes in McTPS2 expression in response to elicitor treatments. The highest expression levels were observed with 150 μM methyl jasmonate, 100 μM jasmonic acid, and 1000 μM salicylic acid. Notably, McTPS2 expression peaked at 8 and 24 hours post-treatment with methyl jasmonate and 8 hours with jasmonic acid. However, expression levels subsequently declined to control levels at other time points (4, 48, and 72 hours). These findings demonstrate that all tested elicitors effectively enhanced McTPS2 gene expression and could be utilized to boost secondary metabolite production in German chamomile.