Induction of sesquiterpenoid production by methyl jasmonate in Aquilaria sinensis cell suspension culture

A suspension cell culture was established from Aquilaria sinensis, a timber species producing fragrant woody material called "Agarwood." Methyl jasmonate was added to this culture in order to induce production of fragrant compounds. Cells were harvested after seven days of incubation and subjected to solid phase micro-extraction to produce an extract that was analyzed by GC/MS. Three peaks appeared on GC and were identified as alpha-guaiene, delta-guaiene (= 1(10),11-guaiadiene), and alpha-humulene based on their mass fragmentation patterns and C-13-NMR data. The production of the guaiene derivatives and a-humulene showed different kinetics, which may mean they are the products of different induced biosynthetic enzymes.