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Review
. 2016 May 31;21(6):567.
doi: 10.3390/molecules21060567.

Methyl Jasmonate: An Alternative for Improving the Quality and Health Properties of Fresh Fruits

Marjorie Reyes-Díaz  1   2 , Tomas Lobos  3 , Liliana Cardemil  4 , Adriano Nunes-Nesi  5 , Jorge Retamales  6 , Laura Jaakola  7 , Miren Alberdi  8   9 , Alejandra Ribera-Fonseca  10   11
Affiliations
Review

Methyl Jasmonate: An Alternative for Improving the Quality and Health Properties of Fresh Fruits

Marjorie Reyes-Díaz et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a plant growth regulator belonging to the jasmonate family. It plays an important role as a possible airborne signaling molecule mediating intra- and inter-plant communications and modulating plant defense responses, including antioxidant systems. Most assessments of this compound have dealt with post-harvest fruit applications, demonstrating induced plant resistance against the detrimental impacts of storage (chilling injuries and pathogen attacks), enhancing secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity. On the other hand, the interactions between MeJA and other compounds or technological tools for enhancing antioxidant capacity and quality of fruits were also reviewed. The pleiotropic effects of MeJA have raisen numerous as-yet unanswered questions about its mode of action. The aim of this review was endeavored to clarify the role of MeJA on improving pre- and post-harvest fresh fruit quality and health properties. Interestingly, the influence of MeJA on human health will be also discussed.

Keywords: antioxidants; fruit quality; human health; jasmonates; post-harvest; pre-harvest.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Methyl jasmonate biosynthesis involves chloroplast, cytoplasm and peroxisome. This synthesis scheme is based on studies of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Abbreviations: AOC, allene oxide cyclase; AOS, allene oxide synthase; JMT, jasmonic acid methyl transferases, LOX, lipoxygenase; OPC, 3-oxo-2-(2′-pentenyl)-cyclopentane-1-octanoic acid; PDA, phytodienoic acid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The F-box protein receptor for isoleucine jasmonate. (1) shows the F-box and the gene to be transcribed before jasmonate application; (2) shows the F-box binding the isoleucine jasmonate, the withdrawal of the JAZ protein from the promoter, the ubiquitination of the JAZ protein to be degraded in the proteosome, and the gene promoter free of the JAZ and ready to be transcribed by MYC2. ASK1, Apoptosis Signal-regulating Kinase 1; COI1, Arabidopsis coronatine-insensitive1; CUL1, component of the SCF complex; JAR1, Jasmonic Acid-Resistant 1; JAZ, Jasmonate ZIM-domainis a transcriptional regulator protein; MYC2, transcription factor; RBX, component of the SCF complex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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