Contributes to jasmonic acid biosynthesis by initiating the beta-oxidative chain shortening of its precursors (PubMed:16963437, PubMed:18267944). Converts 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) and 3-oxo-2-(2'-pentenyl)-cyclopentane-1-octanoic acid (OPC-8:0) into OPDA-CoA and OPC-8:0-CoA, respectively (PubMed:16963437, PubMed:18267944). ATP + CoA + hexadecanoate = AMP + diphosphate + hexadecanoyl-CoA (9Z)-octadecenoate + ATP + CoA = (9Z)-octadecenoyl-CoA + AMP + diphosphate ATP + CoA + OPC-8 = AMP + diphosphate + OPC8-CoA (10Z,15Z)-12-oxophytodienoate + ATP + CoA = (10Z,15Z)-12-oxophytodienoyl-CoA + AMP + diphosphate ATP + CoA + tetradecanoate = AMP + diphosphate + tetradecanoyl-CoA ATP + CoA + decanoate = AMP + decanoyl-CoA + diphosphate ATP + CoA + dodecanoate = AMP + diphosphate + dodecanoyl-CoA ATP + CoA + octadecanoate = AMP + diphosphate + octadecanoyl-CoA ATP + CoA + OPC-6 = AMP + diphosphate + OPC-6-CoA ATP + CoA + dinor-OPDA = AMP + dinor-OPDA-CoA + diphosphate kcat is 0.96 sec(-1) with tetradecanoic acid as substrate (PubMed:18267944). kcat is 1.56 sec(-1) with OPDA as substrate (PubMed:18267944). kcat is 1.78 sec(-1) with dnOPDA as substrate (PubMed:18267944). kcat is 1.27 sec(-1) with OPC-8:0 as substrate (PubMed:18267944). kcat is 1.49 sec(-1) with OPC-6:0 as substrate (PubMed:18267944). A number of isoforms are produced. According to EST sequences. Expressed at low levels in seedlings, cotyledons, leaves, hypocotyls and roots. In seedlings, present at low levels in the vascular system of cotyledons, leaves, hypocotyls, roots and hydathodes (PubMed:18267944). In roots, accumulates mostly in the zone of cell division proximal to the root tip, in the vascular system and primordial cells of lateral roots and, at low levels, in some superficial cells of the elongation zone (PubMed:18267944). In mature plants, observed in the vasculature of leaves, stems, and roots, with a progressive expression increase in mesophyll cells during aging (PubMed:18267944). Weakly detected in the young parts of the bolting stem (PubMed:18267944). By wounding or by jasmonic acid (MeJA) treatment (PubMed:16963437, PubMed:18267944). Accumulates upon infection by incompatible pathogens (e.g. Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) carrying avrRpm1) (PubMed:18267944). Both substrate-binding domains (SBD1 and SBD2) are involved in the substrate recognition, and are sufficient to confer the substrate specificity. No obvious phenotype in growth, root and flower development, fertility, reproduction and morphology (PubMed:18267944). Reduced jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation after wounding (PubMed:18267944). Belongs to the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family.