Effect of jasmonic and salicylic acids foliar spray on the galanthamine and lycorine content and biological characteristics in Galanthus elwesii Hook.

Galanthus elwesii Hook, a bulbous decorative plant native to Europe and Turkey, was the focus of this study. The aim was to investigate the impact of different doses of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on the levels of galanthamine, lycorine, total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant activity, total flavonoid content (TFC), and antimicrobial activity in G. elwesii. The plants in the flowering and fruit setting stages were sprayed with four doses of JA (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg L⁻¹) and three doses of SA (0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 g L⁻¹), in addition to control groups (water and 1% ethanol). The bulb + root and aerial parts were harvested separately. TPC was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, TFC was assessed using aluminum chloride, and antioxidant activity was measured with the DPPH assay. The highest TPC was observed in the bulb + root of the highest plant treated with JA 0.4 mg L⁻¹ and SA 2 g L⁻¹ (184.02 ± 11.02 mg g⁻¹; 180.4 ± 18.4 mg g⁻¹, respectively). The aerial parts exhibited the highest TFC, observed in treatments with JA 0.2 mg L⁻¹ and SA 2 g L⁻¹ (175.52 ± 2.29 mg g⁻¹; 176.18 ± 4.08 mg g⁻¹, respectively). The bulb + root of the plant showed the highest lycorine levels in treatments with JA 0.4 mg L⁻¹ and SA 0.5 g L⁻¹. Galanthamine was not detected in both the control and treatment groups. In terms of antimicrobial activity, JA 0.4 mg L⁻¹ displayed comparable effects to the relevant antibiotics against the selected bacteria. Additionally, JA-treated groups exhibited antimicrobial effects against the selected yeast and fungi. [Display omitted] • Jasmonic (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) were applied to G. elwesii by foliar spraying. • This paper is the first to include treatments of JA and SA in G. elwesii. • Lycorine synthesis was increased by 840%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]