that this study found that nothing happens when pythium is
directly exposed to MeJa. The MeJa needed to be activated by
the plant as part of its total defensive response in order to be
effective against plant pathogens. A subsequent 2009 study
looked at the susceptibility of corn to pythium. Similar to the
Arabidopsis study, it found that the higher the levels of MeJa
corresponded to higher level of immunity to pythium.
METHYL JASMONATE AS PLANT HORMONE
Unrelated to its defensive properties, MeJa is a hormone that
plays a role in several aspects of plant development in several
stages of a plant’s life. A technicality perhaps, but when it occurs
as JA alone, and not the methyl ester MeJa, it might be more
properly referred to as an intercellular signal as opposed to a
true hormone. Methyl jasmonate aids in seed germination and
root tendrilling of developing and mature plants. It plays a role
in proper tassel development and maturation of ears in corn, as
discovered in the 2009 study mentioned above. It is also involved
in promoting tuber formation and the formation of storage
proteins. It aids in flower development (specifically anther
development) and pollen production as well as seed and fruit
maturation. The latter is likely due to its appearance in concert
with the release of ethylene. Ethylene is a naturally occurring
gas that is produced by ripening fruit, which increases the rate
at which surrounding fruit ripens. Methyl jasmonate also plays a
role in the dormancy of plants and seeds.
grow cycle
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