Fungal elicitor preparations and methyl jasmonate enhance rosmarinic acid accumulation in suspension cultures of Coleus blumei

Suspension cultures of Coleus blumei (Lamiaceae) treated with either an eli citor preparation from the culture medium of the phytopathogenic oomycete P ythium aphanidermatum or with methyl jasmonate enhanced accumulation of ros marinic acid approximately threefold. The specific activities of phenylalan ine ammonia lyase and rosmarinic acid synthase were also enhanced after add ition of the fungal elicitor. The addition of methyl jasmonate transiently increased activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and hydroxyphenylpyruva te reductase, whereas the activity of rosmarinic acid synthase was not stim ulated and the activity of tyrosine aminotransferase was slightly and const antly enhanced. Methyl jasmonate stimulated rosmarinic acid accumulation no t only when added directly to the culture medium, but also when it could re ach the cells only via the gas phase.