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The response of terpenoids to exogenous gibberellic acid in Cannabis sativa L. at vegetative stage

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Abstract

In this study the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) on plastidic and cytosolic terpenoids and on two key enzymes, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), for terpenoid biosynthesis was compared in vegetative cannabis plants. Treatment with GA3 resulted in a decrease of DXS activity in comparison with the control plants. The amount of chlorophylls a, b and total carotenoids declined when plants treated by GA3 in a concentration dependent manner. The α-tocopherol content of cannabis plants decreased in 50 μM GA3 treatment and increased in 100 μM GA3 treatment. Exogenous GA3 caused an increase in HMGR activity. Concomitant with this result, the amount of squalene and phytosterols increased with GA3 treatment. The amount of THC and CBD did not change at 50 μM GA3 treatment, but applying of 100 μM GA3 increased THC and CBD content in leaf plant in comparison with control plants. GA3 treatment declined number and percentage of monoterpenes in treated plants. Also the number of sesquiterpenes decreased in response to GA3 treatment but among the remainder of them, the amount of some sesquiterpenes decreased and some sesquiterpenes increased with GA3 treatment. Our results showed that GA3 treatment had opposite effect on primary terpenoid biosynthesis by the plastidic 2C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) and mevalonate (MVA) pathways. But secondary terpenoids showed different response to GA3 treatment probably due to interference of two biosynthetic pathways in their formation.

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Abbreviations

GA3 :

Gibberellic acid

THC:

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

HMGR:

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase

DXS:

1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase

MEP:

2-Methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate

MVA:

Mevalonate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran

    Hakimeh Mansouri & Zahra Asrar

  2. Division of Food Science, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland

    Ryszard Amarowicz

Authors
  1. Hakimeh Mansouri
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  2. Zahra Asrar
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  3. Ryszard Amarowicz
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Correspondence to Zahra Asrar.

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Communicated by P. Sowinski.

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Mansouri, H., Asrar, Z. & Amarowicz, R. The response of terpenoids to exogenous gibberellic acid in Cannabis sativa L. at vegetative stage. Acta Physiol Plant 33, 1085–1091 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0636-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0636-1

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