The effect of osmotically active substances on the alteration of endogenous jasmonates was studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Salome) leaf tissue. Leaf segments were subjected to solutions of d-sorbitol, d-mannitol, polyethylene glycol 6000, sodium chloride, or water as a control. Alterations of endogenous jasmonates were monitored qualitatively and quantitatively using immunoassays. The structures of jasmonates isolated were determined on the basis of authentic substances by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The stereochemistry of the conjugates was confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography with diastereoisomeric references. In barley leaves, jasmonic acid and its amino acid conjugates, for example, with valine, leucine, and isoleucine, are naturally occurring jasmonates. In untreated leaf segments, only low levels of these native jasmonates were found. After treatment of the leaf tissues with sorbitol, mannitol, as well as with polyethylene glycol, an increase of both jasmonic acid and its conjugates could be observed, depending on the stress conditions used. In contrast, salt stress was without any stimulating effect on the levels of endogenous jasmonates. From barley leaf segments exposed to sorbitol (1m) for 24 h, jasmonic acid was identified as the major accumulating compound. Jasmonic acid-amino acid conjugates increased likewise upon stress treatment.