Induction of secondary metabolites in chickpea, pea, carrot and potato tissues in response to elicitor of Hypnea musciformis

Secondary metabolites were induced in chickpea, pea, carrot and potato tissues on treatment with high molecular weight crude elicitor preparations (HMWCEP) of red algal plant, Hypnea musciformis of Karachi coast. These metabolites were quantified with time and dose response of elicitor by using UV-visible spectrophotometer. The results indicated that chickpea, carrots and potatoes responded positively to the elicitor while no significant response was observed in pea tissues. The optimum elicitor doses for the maximum induction of induced secondary metabolites (ISMs) were 5 μg for pea tissues and 100 μg for remaining three plants. Similarly 24 and 48 h incubation periods were the optimum timing for the production of ISMs in these plants. High level of metabolites induction suggest that the seaweed polysaccharides, especially from red algal plant H. musciformis, can be used as potent plant protectant. The UV spectrophotometric method employed is less time consuming and technique is successfully used for the semiquantitative ISM analysis.