ABSTRACT
103Methyl jasmonate is a volatile compound that has been exhaustively studied as a signaling molecule in plants. This compound has been identified as a vital cellular regulator that mediates diverse developmental processes and defense responses against biotic and abiotic stresses. There is scarce information about its role in the physiological processes in plants and how its application is involved in the growth of plants. However, the food industry has been applying this compound as a novel technology to induce the defense mechanism in plant tissue, increasing its bioactive compounds content. In addition, this compound is commonly used to prevent some of the most frequent postharvest diseases affecting the shelf life of fresh produce, while increasing the bioactive compounds content. Hence, this chapter will focus on the current knowledge of methyl jasmonate's role in plant physiology, bioactive compounds content, as well as the pre- and postharvest effects in the overall quality attributes of fruits and vegetables.
