摘要
In this study, exogenous pre-harvest treatment of tomato plants with MeJA （Methyl Jasmonate） and chitosan was used to elicit lycopene biosynthesis and stimulate plant growth. Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment found in tomatoes, carrots and other red fruits and vegetables. It is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage and blocks cancerous cell growth. Many studies suggest eating lycopene-rich foods may be directly linked to reducing risk of several cancers, heart disease and stroke, hence there is a need to enhance its levels in tomatoes. Tomato seeds were soaked in MeJA and chitosan solutions of varying concentrations and then planted. The resulting plants were irrigated with the solutions used to soak the seeds, accordingly. The heights of the plants were recorded on a tri-weekly basis and HPLC （High Performance Liquid Chromatography） was used to analyze the effects of the MeJA and chitosan solutions on lycopene yields in the tomato fruits. Analysis of chromatograms obtained from tomato samples in the MeJA and chitosan-treated groups showed enhanced levels of lycopene. Plant growth was not significantly affected by treatment ofMeJA. Chitosan, however, noticeably increased plant growth over 7 weeks.
