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There has been significant interest in the glucosinolate-myrosinase system in plants of the Brassicaceae due to accumulating evidence that some glucosinolate degradation products are anticarcinogenic and/or suppressive to plant pathogens. Because glucosinolate hydrolysis is catalyzed by endogenous myrosinase, characterization of myrosinase activity is important for elucidating the potential bioactivity of crop glucosinolates. We measured the specific activity in citrate-phosphate buffer extracts across the pH range 4.5–6.5 of two cultivars each of five Brassica groups grown during two fall and two spring seasons. Specific activity in two kale cultivars was highly variable, but tended to have highest activity from pH 5.0–6.0. In both cauliflower cultivars from Fall 2000, Fall 2001, and Spring 2002, optimal pH was around pH 6.0. In Spring 2000, however, specific activity was highest at pH 5.0. Maximum specific activity in both cabbage cultivars occurred in the pH range 5.5–6.0 in Fall 2000, Fall 2001, and Spring 2002. In Spring 2000, specific activity in `Red Acre' cabbage was uniform across the range pH 4.5–5.5 and maximum specific activity was at pH 5.0 for `Early Round Dutch' cabbage. Both brussels sprouts cultivars had pH maxima around pH 5.5–6.0 and significantly lower activity at pH 4.5. Specific activity in broccoli was much like that of cauliflower in that highest activity occurred around pH 5.5–6.0 in Fall 2000, Fall 2001, and Spring 2002, but in Spring 2000, maximum activity was at pH 5.0. These results indicate that in most cases, pH optima were in the range 5.5–6.0, but varied somewhat with season and genotype.

A study was conducted to quantify volatiles generated from Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czerniak) tissue incorporated into soils under controlled conditions. Mustard residues were incorporated into noncovered and covered soils that varied by texture, temperature, moisture, pH, or sterility (autoclaved or nonautoclaved). Sandy loam soil had 38% more allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) than clay loam soil. AITC concentration in 45 °C soil was 81% higher than in soil at 15 °C, and 56% higher in covered compared to noncovered treatments. The microbial catabolism of AITC was suggested by the result that AITC concentration in autoclaved soils was over three times that measured in nonautoclaved soils. The highest AITC level detected (1.71 μmol·L^–1) occurred in the autoclaved covered soil. Several factors also influenced CO₂ evolution. At 30 or 45 °C, CO₂ concentration was at least 64% higher than at 15°C. The covered soil had over twice the CO₂ found in the noncovered soil, and the nonautoclaved soil treatment yielded twice the CO₂ measured in the autoclaved soil. There were no main effect differences among soil moisture, soil pH, and soil texture treatments for CO₂ concentrations. This information could be helpful in defining ideal soil conditions for field scale experiments. Additionally, this study demonstrates a sampling technique for testing fumigation potential of biofumigation and solarization systems that may have the potential to replace methyl bromide.

Biofumigation is an alternative to traditional methods of soil sterilization such as methyl bromide. Biofumigation utilizes volatile, pesticidal compounds in soil incorporated plant material from various Brassica species. Three experiments were conducted to study the degradation of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) generated from the breakdown of glucosinolates present in Oriental mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czerniak). Mustard seed meal was incorporated into a sandy clay loam soil in all experiments. In the first experiment, samples were hydrated and then held in an incubator at 20 ± 0.2 °C. Samples were taken periodically for 7 days or until AITC was not detectable. For the second experiment, hydrated samples were removed from the incubator after 4 hours and 5 mL of ethyl acetate was added. The samples were then placed in a refrigerator at 4 ± 0.2 °C and samples were taken periodically over 77 days. For the third experiment, samples were taken from a strawberry plot experiment grown in a randomized complete block design. Samples were taken and 5 mL of ethyl acetate was added. Then samples were placed into a cooler until returning to the laboratory. The incubator experiment was repeated and showed that the highest concentration of AITC occurred between 2 and 8 hours after hydration. The storage experiment showed a stable relationship between time and AITC degradation. AITC was still present after 77 days. The strawberry plot experiment showed rapid AITC degradation similar to the incubator experiment. Future research will be done to confirm the effects of temperature and glucosinolate content on the amount of allyl isothiocyanate present.

High glucosinolate content in brassica meal is a limiting factor in consumption of rapeseed. In recent years canola cultivars of rapeseed with decreased glucosinolate content have been developed. However, environmental and nutritional factors are also believed to influence glucosinolate content. This study was conducted to determine the relationships among water stress, B nutrition, and glucosinolate content in canola. Two canola cultivars (`Cyclone' and `American A112') were grown in a continuously recirculating hydroponic system with modified Hoagland solution (0.6 ppm B). Water stress was induced gradually (2% per day using polyethylene glycol 8000) starting when plants were 4 weeks old. Osmotic potential was maintained at –0.1 MPa (high stress level), –0.085 MPa (medium stress), or 0.05 MPa (control). Treatments were arranged in a randomized incomplete-block design, with three blocks, four replications, two cultivars, and three treatments. Upper leaves (no. 15 and higher) were collected and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry for B content. Total and indole glucosinolate content of seeds were measured colorimetrically and by HPLC. The leaf B content of stressed plants decreased by 55% in `Cyclone' and 29% in `American A112'. Total glucosinolate content increased 28% and 12%, respectively, in stressed plants of `Cyclone' and `American A112'. Indole glucosinolate content was 44% and 13% higher in the same plants. The interaction between cultivar and water stress was not significant for glucosinolate content but was significant for B content of the leaves.