Effect of Salicylic Acid and Yeast Extract Elicitors on the Expression of HMGR and GPPS Genes Involved in Biosynthesis of Terpenes in Medicinal Plant Ferulago angulata under Cell Suspension Culture Condition

Ferulago angulata (Schlecht) Boiss is one of the valuable and endemic medicinal plants of Iran, which is of great importance due to the source of terpenoid compounds and antimicrobial properties. In current study, the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid and yeast extract in cell suspension culture of F.angulata on expression pattern of the HMGR and GPPS genes (involved in terpenes biosynthesis) were investigated for the first time. The F. angulata cell suspension cultures were initiated and established using calli derived from leaf explants, and salicylic acid and yeast extract elicitors (with 50, 100 and 150 mg/L concentrations) were added to the cultures during active growth. Then, the cell samples were prepared at 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. Analysis of expression pattern of HMGR and GPPS genes using Real-time PCR showed that the expression of both genes were significantly influenced by the type and concentration of the elicitors and also the times after treatment. The relative expression of HMGR and GPPS genes under elicitors were increased compared to the control, and furthermore, the increase in the relative expression of these genes under salicylic acid treatment was significantly higher than that of yeast extract treatment. The highest relative expression of GPPS and HMGR genes was related to 100 mg/L salicylic acid treatment at 24 hours after treatment. However, the highest relative expression of these genes was observed under the 24 and 72 hours after treatment of 150 mg/L yeast extract. The results of this study could be useful in metabolic engineering of F. angulata.