Evaluation of Methyl jasmonate effect on some candidate genes expression related to defense responses in rice

Jasmonic acid is a plant growth regulator that plays an important role in defense responses to environmental stress specially defense gene expression against diverse pathogen. Changes of key hormones biosynthesis consist salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene, genes expression related to phytoalexins synthesis, pathogenesis related proteins and ATP binding cassette ABC Transporter are the most important consequences of plant defense, after pathogen attack. Therefore, in this study effect of methyl jasmonate treatment on genes expression of related to defense response, including: PDR8, PDR5, PDR4, PDR3, NPR1, Thionin, PDF1.2 and PR1 using Real Time PCR technique in two cultivars, Hashemi and Khazar in 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after treatment were studied. Results showed that, methyl jasmonate treatment was increased the expression of all genes. In particular, the increase in 12, 24 and 48 hours were different between the two varieties, but generally the level of expression was significant for Khazar compared to Hashemi.The results suggest that Jasmonic acid treatment increase defense gene expression and probably induce resistance to diseases in rice. In addition genes expression and defense response largely depends on plant genetic background.