Variability for Leaf and Seed Glucosinolate Contents and Profiles in a Germplasm Collection of the Brassica juncea

Abstract

Aim: A renewed interest in glucosinolates (GSLs) as compounds with biocidal and anticarcinogenic activity demands evaluation of the available variability in germplasm collections. The objective of the present study was to evaluate a germplasm collection of the Brassica juncea for total content and profile of leaf and seed GSLs. Methods: A total of 366 entries of a RIL population derived from cross of NUDH-YJ-04 and RL-1359, were nondestructively analyzed by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy by means of previously developed calibration equations. Out of 366 lines, 97 lines were selected on the basis of glucosinolate range and further analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography for total GSL content and the concentrations of individual components i.e. sinigrin, glucoiberin, epiprogoitrin, gluconapin, gluconasturtiin and gluconeobrassicin. Results and conclusion: The collection contained great variability for GSL content and profile. Remarkable variation in glucosinolate content and profiles from different tissues within one plant may reflect different control mechanism operating on the glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway in different tissues. In the present study no correlation has been observed in leaf and seed glucosinolates. NIRS screening followed by further HPLC analyses on preselected entries led to a fast and comprehensive evaluation of variability for total content and profile of seed GSLs, which represents an important advance in the evaluation of GSLs in Brassica germplasm