Trichoderma and sodium nitroprusside elicitation improves vinblastine and vincristine yield by increasing TIA pathway genes expression in cell suspension of Catharanthus roseus

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic elicitors induce the production of plant secondary metabolites. In this study the effects of Trichoderma harzianum and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a biotic and abiotic elicitor on biochemical and molecular features of Catharanthus roseous cell suspension were investigated. Leaf explant and medium amended with concentration of 8 µM 2,4-D and 2 µM BAP were used for obtain cell suspension. Cell suspension exposed to T. harzianum. (%1 v/v) and SNP (150 µM) and after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours harvested. The highest activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, β (1–3) glucanase and chitinase were found 48 hours after application of treatments. Also, the highest level of G10H (2.5-fold), T16H (1.5-fold), D4H (1.1-fold), DAT (1.9-fold), STR (5-fold) and CrPRX (2-fold) were observed 48-hours after elicitor application. A positive correlation was observed between enzymes activities, TIAs biosynthesis pathway genes and vinblastine and vincristine accumulation. These results confirmed that fungus and SNP elicitors in C. roseous led to increase secondary metabolites production and gene expression related to biosynthesis of vinblastine and vincristine pathway 1.84 and 1.93-fold, 48-hours after elicitor application, respectively. All these results suggest that fungus and SNP elicitors after 48-houres exposure, effectively improve the pharmaceutical value of C. roseous.