Elicitation – a tool to improve secondary metabolites production in Melissa Officinalis L. Suspension cultures / Elicitácia ako nástroj na zlepšenie produkcie sekundárnych metabolitov v suspenzných kultúrach Melissa Officinalis L.

Our recent study is focussed on the investigation of the influence of biotic (Botrytis cinerea, methyl jasmonate) and abiotic (cadmium and cobalt chloride) elicitors on Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) suspension cultures production properties. The plant material was treated with different concentrations of methyl jasmonate (10 and 100 μmol.l⁻¹), with a phytopathogenic fungus hydrolyzate (Botrytis cinerea, 1 and 2 ml with glucose equivalent 24 μg.ml⁻¹), cadmium and cobalt (II) chloride (both at concentrations 100 μmol.l⁻¹ and 1 μmol.l⁻¹). Elicited suspension cultures were harvested after 24, 48 and 72 h of elicitor treatment. The elicitation effect was evaluated based on hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives content expressed as rosmarinic acid in dose- and time-dependent manners. The Botrytis cinerea hydrolyzate exhibited the best effect on Melissa officinalis L. suspension cultures production properties among biotic elicitors (glucose equivalent 24 mg.ml⁻¹, 1 ml, after 72 h of treatment). The hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives content increased in triplicate compared to non-elicited samples. Methyl jasmonate affected the suspension cultures production properties moderately at concentration 10 μmol.l⁻¹. Chlorides salts of cobalt and cadmium stimulated phenolic compounds production effectively at concentrations 100 μmol.l⁻¹. The presence of cobalt and cadmium ions in suspension cultures growth media increased the hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives content twofold and quadruple, respectively.