Jasmonates during senescence: Signals or products of metabolism?

Jasmonic acid and derivatives are oxylipin signaling compounds derived from linolenic acid. Jasmonates accumulate during natural and dark-induced senescence but the increase in these compounds is not essential for the initiation or progression of these senescence processes. Here we report that during natural and dark-induced senescence the increase in jasmonate levels does not trigger jasmonate signaling. Furthermore we provide evidence that jasmonate production might result from membrane turnover during dark-induced senescence.