Effect of copper on the content and the biosynthesis of indole glucosinolates glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin in etiolated rape seedlings (Brassica napus var.arvensis (Lam.) Thell.)

The influence of Cu²⁺ ions (in the form of CuCl₂) in the concentration range 10^?3 to 10^?6 M on the content and biosynthesis of indole glucosinolates glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin has been studied on etiolated seedlings of rape (Brassica napus var.arvensis (Lam.) Thell.). Ions Cu²⁺ acted on the seedlings either chronically from the beginning of the germination or acutely, during 3 to 72 h, on seven days old seedlings. The biosynthesis of both glucosinolates was followed by the incorporation of³⁵S from Na₂ ³⁵SO₄ into them in hypocotyl segments from seven days old intact etiolated seedlings. After the entry of small amounts of Cu²⁺ ions into the plants, stimulation of the glucosinolates formation occurs, as was found after three h action of Cu²⁺ ions. After the entry of a greater amount of Cu²⁺ ions into the plant, harmful effects appear, as was found after chronic two days action or after 24 and 48 hours acute action of Cu²⁺ ions. Later further stimulation of glucosinolate formation occurs, probably due to enhanced metabolism during reparation processes, as was manifested after chronic action of Cu²⁺ ions lasting four and eight days. The optimal effect of copper was found mainly in the concentration range 5×10^?4 M to 10^?5 M. Ions Cu²⁺ in higher concentration increased the uptake of sulphate ions by hypocotyl segments, and in lower concentrations increased the incorporation of³⁵S from³⁵SO₄ ^2? into the proteins.     

Distribution and Variation of Indole Glucosinolates in Woad (Isatis tinctoria L.)

The exceptionally high levels in woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) of three indolic goitrogens, namely glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, and glucobrassicin-1-sulfonate, permit the facile study of their distribution in the plant and their changes during its development. Woad seeds contain as much as 0.23% fresh weight of glucobrassicin but no other indole glucosinolate, while 1-week-old seedlings also contain substantial amounts of neoglucobrassicin and glucobrassicin-1-sulfonate in their shoots whether grown in the light or dark. The sulfonate is not found in roots, and light depresses neoglucobrassicin levels in shoots. Sterile root cultures synthesize glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin, and significant quantities of these were even found to be excreted by the roots of intact sterile seedlings in culture. This may explain the long known deleterious effect of woad and other cruciferous crops on subsequent plantings and the observation could be of ecological importance. Long term changes in levels of all three substances in the plant are similar and are compatible with earlier suggestions that the compounds could be auxin precursors at the time of flower stem elongation. Since sterile seedlings readily incorporate ³⁵SO₄²⁻ into indole glucosinolates and relative specific radioactivities suggest that glucobrassicin is the precursor of the other two compounds, pathways of goitrogen biosynthesis should be relatively easily determined in this material.     

Effect of radiation on the biosynthesis of L-Tryptophan from 14C-Anthranilic acid in kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea L., var.gongylodes L.)

The metabolism of¹⁴C-anthranilic acid (¹⁴C-AA) in kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea L. var.gongylodes L.) and the effect of radiation gamma⁶⁰Co on this metabolism was investigated. In hypocotylar segmnents of seven days old etiolated seedlings¹⁴C-AA was metabolised par, tially to its detoxication product¹⁴C-β-glucoside of AA. Simultaneously L-tryptophan was also formed, which in these plants is a precursor of indolic glucosinolates glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. The metabolism of¹⁴C-AA was followed for 97 h. Radiation, applied both to seeds and to seven days old plants did not affect the metabolism of¹⁴C-AA substantially. The intermediary reaction AA → L-tryptophan in the biosynthesis of L-tryptophan is not a radiosensitive part of the synthesis of this amino acid. A not too high radiation sensitivity (max. 45%) was observed in the metabolic pathway leading from L-tryptophan to glucobrassicin.     

Indole Compounds Related to Auxins and Goitrogens of Woad (Isatis tinctoria L.)

Five conspicuous indole derivatives are present in leaves and other tissues of woad (Isatis tinctoria L.). They were identified as tryptophan, isatan B, glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, and glucobrassicin-1-sulfonate. The latter three indole glucosinolates are present at levels of at least 260, 69, and 200 milligrams per kilogram fresh weight and were isolated as crystalline salts. Comparison of physical and chemical properties, particularly NMR spectral analysis, confirms that the 1-methoxyglucobrassicin structure suggested for neoglucobrassicin is correct, whereas further evidence for the even more unusual sulfonation of the ring nitrogen in glucobrassicin-1-sulfonate was obtained. Glucobrassicin-1-sulfonate has an enzymic degradation pattern identical to that of glucobrassicin. As it too releases thiocyanate, it must be added to the list of known plant goitrogens. These studies and the techniques described establish woad as exceptionally suitable higher plant material for metabolic studies of indoles related to goitrogens and auxins.     

An intermediate in the synthesis of glucobrassicins from 3-indoleacetaldoxime by woad leaves

Leaves of woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) were found to incorporate efficiently tritiated indoleacetaldoxime and ³⁵S from ³⁵S-l-cystine into glucobrassicin and sulfoglucobrassicin. Time course of incorporation of ³⁵S from ³⁵S-cystine into the glucosinolates indicated that glucobrassicin was formed first and then sulfoglucobrassicin. Simultaneous administration of tritiated indoleacetaldoxime and ³⁵S-cystine gave doubly labeled glucobrassicin and sulfoglucobrassicin. About twice as much ³⁵S was present in sulfoglucobrassicin as compared to glucobrassicin per unit of ³H incorporated, indicating that a second, probably oxidized, atom of ³⁵S was later introduced into sulfoglucobrassicin. However, the ³⁵S incorporated from cystine into both glucosinolates during the first 8 hours of metabolism was almost exclusively in the divalent sulfur moiety. The incorporation patterns of ³⁵S and titritated indoleacetaldoxime into the glucosinolates suggested a fast turnover of glucobrassicin in the metabolizing leaves.     

Biosynthesis of the glucobrassicin aglycone from14C and15N labelled L-tryptophan precursors

The formation of the isothiocyanate group of the aglycone of glucobrassicin (Glubr) an indole glucosinolate present in relatively large quantities in plants of the familyBrassicaceae, was studied. Labelled Glubr was synthesized from L-tryptophan-3-¹⁴C-amino¹⁵N in winter rape hypocotyl segments. After extraction it was finally isolated in a crystalline state by mixed crystallization with added inactive Glubr tetramethylammonium salt. The specific activity of¹⁴C and the atoms % excess¹⁵N were determined in both the precursor and the product. The ratio¹⁴C/¹⁵N as well as the values of dilution of¹⁴C and¹⁵N were in agreement in the precursor and in the final product. This shows,inter alie, that during the biosynthesis of Glubr, L-tryptophan is not deaminated. Thus the presumed isothiocyanate group of Glubr is synthesized on the α-carbon of the L-tryptophan alanine chain, the α-carbon together with the attached nitrogen pass directly from the precursor into the Glubr aglycone. This represents a type of glucosinolate aglycone biosynthesis where the carbon chain of the initial amino acid is not elongated. This finding is supported by the fact that L-tryptophan-l-¹⁴C does not yield labelled Glubr the C₁ carbon being decarboxylated during Glubr synthesis.     

Glucosinolates of egyptian Capparis species

Capparis ovata var. palaestina Zoh., C. spinosa var. aegyptia Boiss. and C. spinosa var. deserti Zoh., were investigated for glucosinolates. Glucoiberin, glucocapparin, sinigrin, glucocleomin, glucocapangulin, glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin, in addition to two others, were isolated. Four of these viz. glucoiberin, sinigrin, glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin were detected for the first time in Capparis species. Comparative chromatographic analyses of the glucosinolates of the plants examined revealed qualitative differences.     

Glucosinolate responses of oilseed rape, mustard and kale to mechanical wounding and infestation by cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala)

Mechanical wounding of the petioles of six laboratory-grown rapeseed ( Brassica napus ) cultivars induced physiological changes in the plant, markedly affecting the levels of individual glucosinolates. Greatest increases were observed for the indole glucosinolates, glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. Such changes were usually associated with large decreases in the levels of aliphatic glucosinolates. The total glucosinolate content of the wounded plant was thus a reflection of these two opposing trends and wounding produced a greater relative indole glucosinolate content in this total figure. Thus increasing wounding was associated with an increase in indole glucosinolates and a decrease in aliphatic compounds.
Infestation of field- and laboratory-grown rapeseed with cabbage stem flea beetle ( Psylliodes chrysocephala ) produced similar effects, which were observed in various parts of the plant. Differences in response between field- and laboratory-grown infested plants are attributed to the different physiological ages of the harvested material.
Laboratory-grown kale and mustards also showed wound-induced glucosinolate changes. The kale, cv. Fribor, produced elevated levels of both indoles and aliphatics after wounding. Total glucosinolate content in the mustards, which, unlike rape and kale, normally contain only traces of indole glucosinolates in the unstressed state, was increased following wounding. This was, however, not associated with elevated levels of indole glucosinolates, but with accumulation of aliphatic ( Brassica nigra, B. juncea ) and aromatic ( Sinapis alba ) glucosinolates. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Glucosinolate profiling of Brassica rapa cultivars after infection by Leptosphaeria maculans and Fusarium oxysporum

The glucosinolate contents of two different cultivars of Brassica rapa (Herfstraap and Oleifera) infected with Leptosphaeria maculans and Fusarium oxysporum were determined. Infection triggered the accumulation of aliphatic glucosinolates (gluconapin, progoitrin, glucobrassicanapin and gluconapoleiferin) and indole glucosinolate (4-hydroxy-glucobrassicin) in Herfstraap and of two indole glucosinolates (glucobrassicin and 4-hydroxy-glucobrassicin) in Oleifera. While total and aliphatic glucosinolates decreased significantly in Oleifera, a large increase was observed in Herfstraap after fungal infection. The indole glucosinolate glucobrassicin accumulated in Oleifera at a higher rate than Herfstraap especially after infection with F. oxysporum. Apparently the interaction between fungus and B. rapa is cultivar and fungal species specific.     

Differential induction of plant chemical defenses by parasitized and unparasitized herbivores: consequences for reciprocal,multitrophic interactions

Insect parasitoids can play ecologically important roles in virtually all terrestrial plant–insect herbivore interactions, yet whether parasitoids alter the defensive traits that underlie interactions between plants and their herbivores remains a largely unexplored question. Here, we examined the reciprocal trophic interactions among populations of the wild cabbage Brassica oleracea that vary greatly in their production of defensive secondary compounds – glucosinolates (GSs), a generalist herbivore, Trichoplusia ni, and its polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum. In a greenhouse environment, plants were exposed to either healthy (unparasitized), parasitized, or no herbivores. Feeding damage by herbivores induced higher levels of the indole GSs, glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin, but not any of the other measured GSs. Herbivores parasitized by C. floridanum induced cabbage plants to produce 1.5 times more indole GSs than levels induced by healthy T. ni and five times more than uninduced plants. As a gregarious endoparasitoid, C. floridanum causes its host T. ni to feed more than unparasitized herbivores resulting in increased induction of indole GSs. In turn, herbivore fitness parameters (including differential effects on male and female contributions to lifetime fecundity in the herbivore) were negatively correlated with the aliphatic GSs, sinigrin and gluconapin, whereas parasitoid fitness parameters were negatively correlated with the indole GSs, glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. That herbivores and their parasitoids appear to be affected by different sets of GSs was unexpected given the intimate developmental associations between host and parasitoid. This study is the first to demonstrate that parasitoids, through increasing feeding by their herbivorous hosts, can induce higher levels of non‐volatile plant chemical defenses. While parasitoids are widely recognized to be ubiquitous in most terrestrial insect herbivore communities, their role in influencing plant–insect herbivore relationships is still vastly underappreciated.     

Induction ofent-kaurene biosynthesis by low temperature in dwarf peas

Germinating pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds of two dwarf cultivars, “Progress No. 9” and “Green Arrow”, and two tall cultivars, “Alaska” and “Alderman”, were treated with low temperature (3–5°C) for 14 days and then transferred to normal growing conditions (19–21°C for 16 h/14.5–16.5°C for 8 h) for an additional 10 days. Biosynthesis of [¹⁴C]ent-kaurene from [¹⁴C]2-mevalonic acid (2-MVA) was assayed in cell-free enzyme extracts prepared from shoot tips 10 days after cold treatment and was compared with activity in enzyme extracts prepared from noncold-treated, 10-day-old control plants. Shoot lengths of cold-treated plants were measured throughout a 35-day period and compared with shoot lengths of plants grown without cold treatment for 25–35 days. Low temperature induced a five-to 10-fold enhancement ofent-kaurene, hence potentially gibberellin (GA), biosynthesis in seedlings of the two dwarf cultivars but not in the tall cultivars. However, the lack of an increase in growth rate in the cold-treated dwarfs indicated that endogenous GA biosynthesis remained blocked at some point beyondent-kaurene in the biosynthetic pathway. Since the late-flowering “Alderman” cultivar did not exhibit enhanced biosynthesis ofent-kaurene, it appears that if vernalization in late-flowering cultivars of peas is correlated with enhanced GA biosynthesis, it is not the early part of the biosynthetic pathway which is affected.     

Oviposition and tarsal chemoreceptors of the cabbage root fly are stimulated by glucosinolates and host plant extracts

The role of glucosinolates in the oviposition behaviour of the cabbage root fly,Delia radicum (L.) (Diptera, Anthomyiidae) was investigated using egg counts and electrophysiological recordings from tarsal contact chemoreceptors. The glucosinolates present both inside and on the surface of cauliflower leaves were determined. The total amounts obtained with the two methods differed by a factor of 100. The extract of the leaf surface contained about 60 μg per g leaf extracted (gle), the total leaf extract 7.5 mg per gle. The glucosinolate patterns of the two extracts were qualitatively similar, but the ratios of the content of individual glucosinolates showed considerable differences. The D sensilla on segment 3 and 4 of the tarsus ofD. radicum females were shown to contain a sensitive receptor cell for glucosinolates. In contrast, the receptor cells of the D sensilla of the other segments did not respond in a dose dependent way to these compounds. The glucosinolate receptors were found to be especially sensitive to glucobrassicin, gluconasturtiin and glucobrassicanapin with thresholds of about 10⁻⁸ M to 10⁻⁹ M. Large differences (up to two orders of magnitude) were observed among the different glucosinolates. A significant correlation was found between the behavioural discrimination index and the electrophysiological results. But no obvious correlation existed between the chemical nature of the glucosinolate side chain (e.g. indole, aromatic and aliphatic groups), and their stimulatory activity. However, a significant correlation was found between the overall length of the side chain and the biological activity. Although the flies discriminated clearly between model leaves with and without glucosinolates, a clear dose response curve was only obtained for the indole glucosinolate glucobrassicin. Since the most stimulatory fraction of the surface extract contained no glucosinolates, it was concluded that other compounds, in addition to glucosinolates, do play an important role for the stimulation of oviposition.     

Der Stoffwechsel von Indolderivaten in Sinapis Alba L.

Zusammenfassung Die Aufnahme von D,L-Tryptophan in isolierte Hypokotylsegmente von Sinapis alba ist ein aktiver Prozeß; er erfolgt auch gegen ein Konzentrationsgefälle und wird durch 2,4-Dinitrophenol gehemmt. Die Aufnahmerate der D-Isomeren beträgt nur 50% der L-Verbindung.Einzig nachweisbare Umsetzungsprodukte des L-Tryptophans in Sinapishypokotylen waren die Glucosinolate (Senfölglucoside) Glucobrassicin und Neoglucobrassicin. Indolauxine wie IES und IAN traten auch nach Fütterung von radioaktivem Tryptophan in chemisch oder radioaktiv nachweisbaren Mengen nicht auf. Frühere Nachweise dieser Verbindungen beruhen auf Artefaktbildung im Verlauf der Extraktion und Aufarbeitung.Das Endprodukt der Umsetzung von D-Tryptophan ist auch in Sinapis D-Malonyltryptophan.Der Zeitverlauf der Umsetzung von C¹⁴-D,L-Tryptophan und S³⁵-Sulfat in Sinapis wird beschrieben. Ein rascher Einbau der S³⁵-Aktivität in den Thioäther des Glucosinolats beweist eine nennenswerte Reduktion des Sulfats auch im Dunkeln.Zwischen papierchromatographisch und hochspannungselektrophoretisch isoliertem Glucobrassicin und seinem kristallinen Tetramethylammoniumsalz besteht keine Übereinstimmung in der Spaltbarkeit durch Myrosinase.Die Bedeutung der Indolglucosinolate für den Auxinhaushalt und die derzeitige Situation in der Erforschung der Indolauxine in Cruciferen wird diskutiert.

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Metabolism of indole derivatives in Sinapis alba L.II. Investigation of the biogenesis and metabolism of indole glueosinolates with the aid of Ring-Labelled C¹⁴-Tryptophane and S³⁵-Sulphate

Summary D,L-tryptophane is taken up by isolated segments of the hypocotyls of Sinapis alba against a concentration gradient. This process is inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol. Both observations suggest an active uptake process. The rate of absorption of the D-isomer is only 50% of that of the L-compound.The glucosinolates (mustard oil glucosides), glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin are the only metabolic products of L-tryptophane which we have been able to detect in hypocotyls of Sinapis. Neither by chemical methods nor with the aid of tracer techniques were we able to detect any indole auxin like IAA or IAN. We attribute earlier reports of the occurrence of compounds of this type in Cruciferae to artefact formation in the course of extraction and preparation.The metabolic end product of D-tryptophane in Sinapis is D-malonyl tryptophane.The kinetics of the metabolism of C¹⁴-D,L-tryptophane and S³⁵-sulphate in Sinapsis hypocotyls has been determined. The fast labelling by S³⁵ of the thioether group of glucosinolates demonstrates that sulphate reduction is possible even in the dark.Glucobrassicin isolated by paper chromatography or high voltage electrophoresis differs from its crystalline tetramethylammonium salt in respect to the rate at which it is split by myrosinase.The importance of the indole glucosinolates for the auxin metabolism and the present situation in the investigation of indole auxins in Cruciferae is discussed.

     

Damage to oilseed rape seedlings by the field slug Deroceras reticulatum in relation to glucosinolate concentration

Seedlings of nine commercial cultivars of oilseed rape were exposed to the field slug Deroceras reticulatum immediately after sowing in compost in trays. There was a small reduction in seedling numbers in the presence of slugs which was not related to glucosinolate concentration in seeds or seedlings. However, the number and leaf-area of seedlings with damage symptoms were strongly and inversely related to the total concentration of glucosinolates in seeds and one wk-old seedlings. The presence of barley seedlings as alternative food did not significantly affect this relationship. The glucosinolate concentration of seeds was closely correlated with that of wk-old seedlings. Analysis of individual glucosinolates in four cultivars spanning the range of concentrations found, showed that the concentration of most components declined as total glucosinolate concentration decreased. However, 2-phenyl ethyl-glucosinolate (gluconasturtiin) concentration tended to increase in seeds and 3-indolyl methyl-glucosinolate (glucobrassicin) increased in seedlings as total glucosinolate concentration decreased. Damage by slugs was inversely related to the concentration of those glucosinolates which decreased and was positively correlated with the two compounds which increased as total glucosinolate concentration decreased. The results support the hypothesis that glucosinolates in brassicas protect them from polyphagous herbivores, and, in particular, that an important function of glucosinolates in rape seeds is to protect seedlings from slugs. As glucosinolate concentrations of oilseed rape cultivars continue to decline, so the risk of slug damage to seedlings may well increase.     

Ineffectiveness of ethylene biosynthetic and action inhibitors in phenotypically reverting theEpinastic mutant of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.)

Five-day-old, dark-grown seedlings of theEpinastic (Epi) tomato mutant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and its parent, cultivar VFN8, were used as a system for assessing the role of ethylene in theEpi phenotype. The distinguishing features ofEpi seedlings are an increase in hypocotyl diameter and reduced hypocotyl length. Treatment of VFN8 seedlings with 0.5 l/liter ethylene closely mimicked theEpi phenotype. The rate of ethylene production by 5-day-old, dark-grownEpi seedlings was double that of VFN8 seedlings. Nevertheless, treatment ofEpi seedlings with inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis (aminoethoxyvinylglycine or Co²⁺) or ethylene action (silver thiosulfate or norbornadiene) failed to normalize theEpi phenotype.Epi seedlings grown in sealed jars containing ethylene and CO₂ adsorbants also expressed the characteristicEpi phenotype. The results indicate that the physiological lesion resulting from theEpi gene mutation is not simply an overproduction of ethylene.     

Effect of retinoic acid on chondrocyte glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis.

The effect of retinoic acid on glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis was investigated in rat costal cartilage chondrocytes in vitro. At levels of 10^?9 to 10^?8m retinoic acid, ³⁵SO₄ uptake into glycosaminoglycans was reduced 50%. At these low levels of retinoic acid there was no evidence of lysosomal enzyme release. The results are explained best in terms of modification of glycosaminoglycan synthesis, rather than accelerated degradation. Retinoic acid selectively modified the incorporation of ³⁵SO₄ or [¹⁴C]glucosamine into individual glycosaminoglycans fractions under the conditions studied. The relative incorporation of radiolabeled precursor into heparan sulfate (and/or) heparin increased three- to fourfold. The relative incorporation of radiolabeled precursor remained constant for chondroitin 6-sulfate, whereas incorporation into chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin (and/or) hyaluronic acid decreased. Under the conditions studied, retinoic acid did not appear to be cytotoxic and did exhibit selective control over glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. It is suggested that the decreased incorporation of ³⁵SO₄ into glycosaminoglycans at hypervitaminosis A levels of retinol may be accounted for by the presence of low levels of retinoic acid, a naturally occurring metabolite.     

Transport of magnesium ions in the phloem of Ricinus communis L. seedlings

During growth of Ricinus communis seedlings, magnesium ions are mobilized in the endosperm, taken up by and accumulated to very high levels (150 μmol·g FW^?1) in the cotyledons, and translocated to hypocotyl and roots. The magnesium gain from days 6 to 7 in the cotyledons and the seedling axis necessitates a total up-take rate of 600 nmol·h^?1-seedling^?1 and the phloem translocation rate must amount to 200 nmol·h^?1. seedling^?1. The phloem loading of magnesium and the regulatory properties of this process were investigated, making specific use of the ability to collect pure phloem sap from the cut hypocotyl of 6-d-old Ricinus seedlings. The concentration of magnesium in sieve-tube sap (5 mM) was fairly constant under many incubation conditions, e.g. incubation in magnesium-free buffer, incubation with different cations (K⁺, Na⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ ) or anions (Cl^?, NO ₄ ^- , SO ₄ ^2- ), or incubation with sucrose and amino acids. Even addition of magnesium chloride to the cotyledons did not enhance phloem loading of magnesium ions. Therefore the high magnesium content of the cotyledons was sufficient for continuous phloem loading of magnesium, irrespective of external ionic conditions. Also, the flow rate of sieve-tube sap did not influence the magnesium concentration in the sap. Only the incubation with sulfate and phosphate ions increased the magnesium-ion concentration in the phloem. Magnesium sulfate offered to the cotyledons caused a threefold increase of magnesium ions in the sieve-tube sap, which was inhibited by Na⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ and Ca²⁺ in rising order, but not by K⁺. Incubation with phosphate for a prolonged period (8 h) led to an increased mobilization of intra-cotyle-donary magnesium and an enhanced phloem loading of mobilized magnesium. It is concluded that phosphate availability is a decisive factor for mobilization and translocation of magnesium ions within the plant.     

Variation in Broccoli Cultivar Phytochemical Content under Organic and Conventional Management Systems: Implications in Breeding for Nutrition

Organic agriculture requires cultivars that can adapt to organic crop management systems without the use of synthetic pesticides as well as genotypes with improved nutritional value. The aim of this study encompassing 16 experiments was to compare 23 broccoli cultivars for the content of phytochemicals associated with health promotion grown under organic and conventional management in spring and fall plantings in two broccoli growing regions in the US (Oregon and Maine). The phytochemicals quantified included: glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassin), tocopherols (δ-, γ-, α-tocopherol) and carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene). For glucoraphanin (17.5%) and lutein (13%), genotype was the major source of total variation; for glucobrassicin, region (36%) and the interaction of location and season (27.5%); and for neoglucobrassicin, both genotype (36.8%) and its interactions (34.4%) with season were important. For δ- and γ- tocopherols, season played the largest role in the total variation followed by location and genotype; for total carotenoids, genotype (8.41–13.03%) was the largest source of variation and its interactions with location and season. Overall, phytochemicals were not significantly influenced by management system. We observed that the cultivars with the highest concentrations of glucoraphanin had the lowest for glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. The genotypes with high concentrations of glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin were the same cultivars and were early maturing F₁ hybrids. Cultivars highest in tocopherols and carotenoids were open pollinated or early maturing F₁ hybrids. We identified distinct locations and seasons where phytochemical performance was higher for each compound. Correlations among horticulture traits and phytochemicals demonstrated that glucoraphanin was negatively correlated with the carotenoids and the carotenoids were correlated with one another. Little or no association between phytochemical concentration and date of cultivar release was observed, suggesting that modern breeding has not negatively influenced the level of tested compounds. We found no significant differences among cultivars from different seed companies.     

The ability to manipulate plant glucosinolates and nutrients explains the better performance of Bemisia tabaci Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 than Mediterranean on cabbage plants

The performance of herbivorous insects is greatly affected by host chemical defenses and nutritional quality. Some herbivores have developed the ability to manipulate plant defenses via signaling pathways. It is currently unclear, however, whether a herbivore can benefit by simultaneously reducing plant defenses and enhancing plant nutritional quality. Here, we show that the better performance of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1; formerly the “B” biotype) than Mediterranean (MED; formerly the “Q” biotype) on cabbage is associated with a suppression of glucosinolate (GS) content and an increase in amino acid supply in MEAM1‐infested cabbage compared with MED‐infested cabbage. MEAM1 had higher survival, higher fecundity, higher intrinsic rate of increase (r_m), a longer life span, and a shorter developmental time than MED on cabbage plants. Amino acid content was higher in cabbage infested with MEAM1 than MED. Although infestation by either biotype decreased the levels of total GS, aliphatic GS, glucoiberin, sinigrin, glucobrassicin, and 4OH‐glucobrassicin, and the expression of related genes in cabbage, MED infestation increased the levels of 4ME‐glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, progoitrin, and glucoraphanin. The GS content and expression of GS‐related genes were higher in cabbage infested with MED than with MEAM1. Our results suggest that MEAM1 performs better than MED on cabbage by manipulating host defenses and nutritional quality.     

Comparative analysis of glucosinolate production in hairy roots of green and red kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)

Abstract

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are sulfur- and nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites that function in plant defense and provide benefits to human health. In this study, using Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1000, green and red kale hairy roots were established. The expression levels of GSLs biosynthesis genes and their accumulation in both kale hairy roots were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and HPLC. The results showed that the expression of most indolic GSLs biosynthesis genes was higher in the hairy roots of green kale than in that of red kale. In contrast, the expression of BoCYP83A1 and BoSUR1 encoding key enzymes aromatic GSL biosynthesis was significantly higher in red kale hairy root. The HPLC analysis identified six GSLs. The levels of 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, and 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin were 6.21, 5.98, and 2 times higher, respectively, in green kale than in red kale, whereas the levels of neoglucobrassicin and gluconasturtiin were 16.2 and 3.48 times higher, respectively, in red kale than in green kale. Our study provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of GSLs biosynthesis in kale hairy roots and can be potentially used as “biological factories” for producing bioactive substances such as GSLs.