Identification of Jasmonic Acid in Three Species of Higher Plants and Its Biological Activities

Abstract

(−)-Jasmonic acid (JA) was isolated and characterized from immature seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. as a growth inhibitor against rice seedlings. The presence of JA was also confirmed in both fresh leaves and insect galls of Castanea crenata Sieb. et Zucc. and immature seeds of Dolichos lablab L. by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. The biological activities of JA were evaluated in several bioassay systems, and it was shown that JA is a new type of plant growth regulator.