Effect of jasmonic acid and salicylic acid on polyphenol and flavenoids in extract of Calendula officinalis L. flower

Background & Aim: Marigold or Calendula officinalis L. is a annual herb belongs to the Asteraceae family.  Marigold is a valuable medicinal plant which is used in pharmaceutical industry.  In addition, this plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Aim of current study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) on phytochemical properties of Calendula officinalis L. flower. Experimental: A pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six treatments, and seven replications. The treatments, including four concentrations of SA (1, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L), and JA in three levels (50, 100, and 200 μl/L). The treatments were sprayed before the early flowering stage of growth. Results & discussion: Results of analysis of variance indicated the various concentrations of the foliar application of JA, and SA do have significant impacts on polyphenol, carotenoid and flavenoids contents in the extracts of C. officinalis. In addition, results indicated the correlation between traits by Pearson method that there was a significant and positive relation between polyphenol and carotenoid (0.603**). Industrial and practical recommendations: In metabolic cultivation, for producing a special metabolite, the main agronomic and processing management should be regarded in order to increase the rate of essence and metabolites. Finally, the treatment of solution of JA 100 μl may be suitable because of increased content of carotenoid and polyphenol contents.