Jasmonic acid and heavy metals in Arabidopsis plants - a similar physiological response to both stressors?

Methyl ester of jasmonic acid (JAMe) in in vivo conditions inhibited growth and pigment accumulation and also decreased the efficiency of some photosynthetic processes in Arabidopsis plants. A similar effect of excess Cu and Cd ions, depending on their concentration, was observed. Salicylhydroxamate and propyl gallate, inhibitors of jasmonic acid synthesis, prevented the inhibitory effect of heavy metals on chlorophyll accumulation and photosynthetic activity, but not that on leaf growth (at a higher Cd content) and on energy dissipative processes in the light-harvesting antennae. JAMe at 10−6 mol/L and 10−5 mol/L showed a protective effect against Cu and Cd ions, not observed at 10−4 mol/L. These results indicate that JAMe strongly influences Cu and Cd toxicity in Arabidopsis plants. This effect is partially metal-specific and depends on jasmonic acid concentration and its internal or external origin.