Methyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of methylsalicylate in response to stresses. Utilizes salicylic acid (SA) more efficiently than benzoic acid (BA). Can also use anthranilic acid and m-hydroxybenzoic acid as substrate. benzoate + S-adenosyl-L-methionine = methyl benzoate + S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine S-adenosyl-L-methionine + salicylate = methyl salicylate + S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine Binds 1 Mg(2+) ion per subunit. kcat is 0.19 sec(-1) for benzoic acid. kcat is 0.07 sec(-1) for salicylic acid. Optimum pH is 7.0-8.0. Homodimer. Expressed in flowers and at lower levels in leaves and stems. Hardly detected in roots and siliques. Expressed in the sepals and the leaf trichomes and hydathodes. Up-regulated by alamethicin, herbivory, uprooting, woundingd, jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate, but not by salicylic acid. Induced specifically around the lesions. Loss of accumulation of methyl salicylate upon pathogen infection, no accumulation of salicylic acid or its glucoside in uninoculated leaves and no development of systemic acquired resistance. Increased attractivity to parasitoids. Belongs to the methyltransferase superfamily. Type-7 methyltransferase family. SABATH subfamily.