Exogenous methyl jasmonate combined with Ca promote resveratrol biosynthesis and stabilize sprout growth for the production of resveratrol-rich peanut sprouts.

Promoting resveratrol accumulation in plants and utilizing resveratrol-rich plants as raw materials for the development of functional foods is a promising development direction. The effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), in combination with CaCl and Ca inhibitors, on physiological metabolism and resveratrol enrichment of peanut sprouts were investigated. MeJA combined with CaCl increased Ca content, calmodulin content, and Ca- adenosine triphosphatase activity, as well as upregulated calcium-binding proteinase expression levels. Treatment with MeJA plus CaCl significantly increased peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities and antioxidant capacities, significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, which resulted in a significantly increased in sprout length and fresh weight, and alleviated the inhibition of sprout growth. MeJA plus CaCl significantly increased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase and upregulated the expression levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase, and resveratrol synthase, thus significantly increasing resveratrol content. However, MeJA combined with Ca antagonists reversed these effects. These results indicate that MeJA interacts with Ca to promote resveratrol synthesis in peanut sprouts and to improve sprout stress tolerances.