Effects of ultraviolet C, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, alone or in combination, on stilbene biosynthesis in cell suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon

Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon cell suspension cultures were treated with ultraviolet C (UV-C), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA), alone or in combination, to investigate the effects on stilbene biosynthesis. The application of elicitors at the proper dosage or concentration did not exert a negative effect on cell growth. All treatments enhanced both stilbene production inside the cells and trans-resveratrol accumulation in the culture medium. UV-C irradiation for 20 min or MeJA at 100 mu M was efficient in promoting stilbene accumulation. The combined treatment of UV-C and MeJA highly induced total intracellular stilbene production to the maximum of 2005.05 +/- A 63.03 mu g g(-1) DW, and showed a synergistic effect on extracellular trans-resveratrol accumulation to 3.96 +/- A 0.2 mg l(-1). SA at 100 mu M was less efficient than UV-C and MeJA in promoting stilbene production. However, the combined elicitation of UV-C and SA further promoted intracellular stilbene production to the maximum of 1630.93 +/- A 44.17 mu g g(-1) DW, and markedly increased extracellular trans-resveratrol accumulation to 2.33 +/- A 0.15 mg l(-1). Intracellular total phenolics and total flavonoids contents also significantly increased after elicitations. Relative expression of genes involved in stilbene and flavonoid biosynthesis was up-regulated, and there was a synergistic effect of UV-C together with MeJA or SA on STS expression. The results suggested that the combined treatment of UV-C together with MeJA or SA can be used as an efficient method to enhance stilbene production in V. vinifera cell cultures.