ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of elicitors on secondary metabolites accumulation at different proliferation stages of thyme. METHODS: The thyme was induced by jasmonic acid methyl ester, salicylic acid and chitosan respectively after being culture on 1/2 MS basal medium for 20, 30 and 40 d, and secondary metabolites were extracted and examined by GC-MS. RESULTS: Forty-six compounds were identified in the solution. It was found through comparison of 12 compounds with contents more than 1% that three inducers significantly increased the contents of aromatic compounds represented by thymol, oxidation terpenoids and terpenes compounds represented by benzene, 1-methyl-3-(1-methylethyl) and 1,4-cyclohexadiene 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl). CONCLUSION: The secondary metabolites of thyme are affected significantly by elicitors.