Role and activity of jasmonates in plants under in vitro conditions

Jasmonates (JAs), such as jasmonic acid and its methyl ester, are lipid-derived compounds with signal functions in plant growth and development, as well as in responses to stress. JAs are widely distributed in plants as natural plant growth regulators. JAs do not work independently but work as a part of a complex signaling network with other phytohormones. They are deployed to induce response during wounding and are often used for elicitation and stimulation of secondary metabolites production in different in vitro culture systems. Application of JAs seems to be promising during different steps of the micropropagation system for different species. JAs stimulate proliferation rate of shoots, roots, callus and induce microtubers and bulblets formation. However, negative effects of JAs on the condition of plant tissues are also reported, e.g. leaf senescence, reduced growth and inhibited somatic embryogenesis. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the application and properties of jasmonates under in vitro conditions in terms of cell division, explant growth, proliferation ability, storage organ formation and stress response.