Evaluation and Comparison of Germline a Synthetase (TpGAS) and Parthenolide Synthetase (Tppts) Genes Expression in Parthenolide Biosynthetic Pathway under Different Salinity Levels in Two Vegetative Stages of Feverfew Leaves(Tanacetum parthenium)

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is belonging to the Asteraceae family that was traditionally used as a fever and the most important constituent of the sesquiterpene lactones is Parthenolide. Parthenolide, a lactone germacranolide, is very important in preventing migraine and cancer treatment due to its medical value and pharmacological activity in particular. In the present study, young and mature leaves of Feverfew were at different salinity levels (control: EC = 3.2(Ds/m), mild salinity EC = 6.1, moderate salinity EC = 8.4 and severe salinity EC = 10.2). In order to study the changes in the expression of biosynthetic pathway genes, parthenolide, germinal A synthetase (GAS) and parthenolide synthetase (PTS) were evaluated by Real Time PCR method. The amount of parthenolide produced in the leaves was determined by HPLC extraction method using standard parthenolide curve and essential essence percentage by GC / MS. The results showed increased expression of the studied genes in young and mature leaves under salinity stress compared to control plants. The highest gene expression (TpPTS) was observed in young leaves in severe salinity (Ec = 10.2) and in adult leaves in severe salinity (Ec = 10.2) and moderate salinity (Ec = 8.4). Adult was related to severe and moderate salinity treatments. Also, according to the present study, the highest expression of TpGAS gene in young and adult leaves was related to severe and moderate salinity treatments. Also, according to the present study, the highest and lowest amount of parthenolide produced in young leaves belonged to severe salinity treatment (1.5mg / g essence) and control (0.2mg / g essence), respectively.  In adult leaves, the highest amount of parthenolide belonged to severe salinity treatment (1.5mg / g essence) and lowest belonged to control (0.1mg / g essence). The results of correlation between partitioning of germakren A synthetase and parthenolide synthetase genes was a positive correlation between the partitioning of germakren A synthetase and parthenolide synthetase genes.