Variation in phytoecdysteroid accumulation in hairy roots of Silene linicola over extended time periods

This study evaluates phytoecdysteroid (PE) biosynthesis stability and the effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on changing their accumulation over 25 subculture cycles of Silene linicola hairy roots. High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine PE content. We find a significant change in the biosynthesis level of PEs as a whole, as well as individual components such as 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and turkesterone, under prolonged cultivation of S. linicola hairy roots. The maximum 20E content was observed in a sample of the 7th subcultivation cycle (0.189%), whereas the maximum level of turkesterone-the 9th cycle (0.044%). We found that without application of MJ, the main component of total PEs in hairy roots becomes 20E during the 7th to 25th subcultivation cycles, with percentages of 51.9; 25.4; 79.1 and similar to 100% in 7th, 9th, 21st and 25th cycles, respectively. Using the elicitor changes this pattern. The smallest ratio of 20E to the PE sum was 8.2% and turkesterone becomes the major component (53%), detected during the 9th passage treated with MJ. Our data suggest that total PE and individual component content should be monitored along with 20E level, as biosynthetic activity of these components in S. linicola hairy roots varies with cultivation stage.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the stability of phytoecdysteroid (PE) biosynthesis and the impact of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the accumulation of PE over 25 subculture cycles of Silene linicola hairy roots. Significant changes were observed in the biosynthesis levels of PEs, particularly 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and turkesterone, during prolonged cultivation. The application of MJ altered the composition of PEs, with turkesterone becoming the major component during the 9th subculture cycle.