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Article
Author(s)
Anne Osano, Norman Fultang and Jarrett Davis
Full-Text PDF XML 1151 Views
DOI:10.17265/2162-5298/2017.11.004
Affiliation(s)
Department of Natural Sciences, Bowie State University, Bowie 20715, USA
ABSTRACT
In this study, exogenous
pre-harvest treatment of tomato plants with MeJA (Methyl Jasmonate) and chitosan was used to
elicit lycopene biosynthesis and stimulate plant growth. Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid
pigment found in tomatoes, carrots and other red fruits and vegetables. It is a
powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage and blocks cancerous cell
growth. Many studies suggest eating lycopene-rich foods may be directly linked
to reducing risk of several
cancers, heart disease and stroke, hence there is a need to enhance its levels in tomatoes. Tomato seeds were
soaked in MeJA and chitosan
solutions of varying concentrations and
then planted. The resulting plants were irrigated with
the solutions used to soak the seeds, accordingly. The heights of the plants
were recorded on a tri-weekly basis and HPLC
(High Performance Liquid Chromatography) was used to analyze the effects of the MeJA and chitosan solutions on lycopene yields in the
tomato fruits. Analysis of chromatograms obtained from tomato samples in the
MeJA and chitosan-treated groups showed enhanced levels of lycopene. Plant
growth was not significantly affected by treatment of MeJA. Chitosan, however, noticeably increased plant
growth over 7 weeks.
KEYWORDS
Lycopene, jasmonates, chitosan, elicitation, tomatoes.
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