Increasing of chavicol o- methyl transfrase gene expression and catalase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes activity of basil (Ocimum basilicum) by chitosan

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)، a medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae family، is used in traditional Iranian medicine. Essential oils of basil are composed of phenylpropanoids. Chavicol o-methyl and eugenol o-methyl are the most important components in essential oil of basil. Chitosan، main compound of fungal species could be used as biotic elicitor to improve secondary metabolites. In the present study، the effect of chitosan on methylchavicol content، chavicol o-methyl transfrase gene expression and enzymes activity of catalase، ascorbate peroxidase was evaluated. The plants were treated at pre flowering stage with 2 g/L chitosan and harvested after 1، 2، 3، and 5 days. Essential oils analysis showed that methylchavicol increased under chitosan compare to untreated plants. Chavicol o-methyl transfrose gene expression and antioxidant enzymes activity increased significantly after chitosan. Totally، changes in gene expression in different harvest stages are consistent with methylchavicol changes. Thus، chitosan increased methylchavicol by increasing CVOMT gene expression.