LAUSR

Abstract Although smoke-water (SW) and butenolide (KAR1) isolated from smoke show stimulating effects on the production of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study was initiated to investigate the signal molecule in the KAR1-induced tanshinones biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root. KAR1 treatment resulted in substantial improvement in the accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA), followed by an increase in lipophilic tanshinones production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy root. Treatment of external JA stimulated the biosynthesis of tanshinones without KAR1 treatment. KAR1-stimulated tanshinones biosynthesis was inhibited with the treatment of SHAM and PrGall, which are JA synthesis inhibitors. This study indicated that JA serves as a role in the signal transduction involved in KAR1-stimulated tanshinones biosynthesis in the S. miltiorrhiza.