Jasmonate, Genes, and Fragrant Signals

Abstract

Although first recognized for its growth-inhibiting activity about 20 years ago, JA2 and its fragrant methyl ester MeJA (referred to here collectively as jasmonate) are receiving renewed interest as potentially important signaling molecules in plants. This is because jasmonate markedly increases the expression of specific plant genes, some of which are wound responsive. Similarities with fatty acid-derived stress signaling molecules in animals (1) make jasmonate of general biological interest