Methyl jasmonate elicits the production of methyl (E)-2-hexenoate from (Z)-2-hexenol via (Z)-2-hexenal in Achyranthes bidentata plant

•A. bidentata plant produced methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1) under MeJA elicitation.•Methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1) production was enhanced by (Z)-2-hexenol application.•Methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1) might be biosynthesized from (Z)-2-hexenol via (Z)-2-hexenal. The medicinal herbal plant Achyranthes bidentata (A. bidentata) produces the sweet-odor ester – methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1) as the major volatile in response to methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Here, we investigated the biosynthetic pathway of methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1). The common plant precursor (Z)-3-hexenal was only slightly metabolized into methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1), and its application scarcely enhanced the production of this ester. By contrast, a structurally related alcohol, (Z)-2-hexenol, as well as a deuteride derivative thereof could be efficiently metabolized into methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1). Thus, we hypothesize that A. bidentata possess a specific pathway for the production of methyl (E)-2-hexenoate (1) from (Z)-2-hexenol in response to MeJA.