Seed Glucosinolate Content Research Articles

История селекции рапса ярового во ВНИИМК (обзор)

In USSR, the rapeseed production drown attention only in 70-ties of the last century. In VNIIMK, the full-scale breeding of spring rapeseed had been started by the organization of the laboratory of rapeseed breeding in 1983. The main task at the first stage was development of erucic acid free cultivars. The culti-var Kubansky (type “0”) became the first erucic acid free cultivar of rapeseed, which was differed from the foreign cultivars by the lowered content of linolenic acid in oil – 3.9%. Cultivars developed in 1982–1984 had stable level of erucic acid from 0.2 to 0.8%. The second stage of spring rapeseed breeding covers 1989–1993. It was aimed not only on increasing of oil quality but the cake quality too, namely decreas-ing of glucosinolate content in seeds to 15–16 µmol/g (type “00”). And in parallel, breeding works on in-creasing of oil content in seeds were conducted, as a result this trait meaning was changed from 42.4 to 47.6%. At the next stage in spring rapeseed breeding the main task was to decrease linolenic acid content and increase oleic acid content in oil using intraspecif-ic hybridization, chemical mutagenesis, and self-pollination. The cultivar Viking-VNIIMK had linolen-ic acid content of 4%, and the cultivar Amulet – 77.5% of oleic acid in oil. The new stage in the spring rapeseed breeding is connected with development of yellow-seeded cultivars (type “000”). In 2023, the cultivar Kenar was included into the State register of the breeding achievements. To 2023, a scale of spring rapeseed cultivars of the different usage directions for food and other industries was developed in the institute. The last years, a new stage in spring rapeseed breeding has started, it is aimed on development of interlinear hybrids on CMS base, that do it possible to raise seed yield of this crop on the new level.

Форпост КЛ – первый отечественный сорт ярового рапса, устойчивый к имидазолиноновым гербицидам

A spring rapeseed cultivar Forpost KL has been developed during the period of 2009–2019 by an individual selection method in F2 from ESI-No. 65/2009 × Luch hybrid combination. That was the first Russian spring rapeseed cultivar resistant to imidazolinone herbicides. In 2015–2019, in the competitive crop variety testing conducted in the All-Russian Research Rapeseed Institute, the cultivar Forpost KL exceeded the standard Rif on seed yield by 0.15 t/ha (by 7.6 %), on oil yield – by 0.07 t/ha, and its glucos-inolate content in seeds was lower by 2.6 µmol/g. Forpost KL has been included into the State Register of breeding achievements (Patent No. 12408) and approved for production in the North-West (2), Central (3), Volga-Vyatka (4), Central Black Earth (5), Middle Volga (7), Ural ( 9), West Siberian (10), and East Siberian (11) regions from 2022.

Targeted editing of multiple homologues of GTR1 and GTR2 genes provides the ideal low-seed, high-leaf glucosinolate oilseed mustard with uncompromised defence and yield.

Glucosinolate content in the two major oilseed Brassica crops-rapeseed and mustard has been reduced to the globally accepted Canola quality level (<30 μmoles/g of seed dry weight, DW), making the protein-rich seed meal useful as animal feed. However, the overall lower glucosinolate content in seeds as well as in the other parts of such plants renders them vulnerable to biotic challenges. We report CRISPR/Cas9-based editing of glucosinolate transporter (GTR) family genes in mustard (Brassica juncea) to develop ideal lines with the desired low seed glucosinolate content (SGC) while maintaining high glucosinolate levels in the other plant parts for uncompromised plant defence. Use of three gRNAs provided highly efficient and precise editing of four BjuGTR1 and six BjuGTR2 homologues leading to a reduction of SGC from 146.09 μmoles/g DW to as low as 6.21 μmoles/g DW. Detailed analysis of the GTR-edited lines showed higher accumulation and distributional changes of glucosinolates in the foliar parts. However, the changes did not affect the plant defence and yield parameters. When tested against the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and generalist pest Spodoptera litura, the GTR-edited lines displayed a defence response at par or better than that of the wild-type line. The GTR-edited lines were equivalent to the wild-type line for various seed yield and seed quality traits. Our results demonstrate that simultaneous editing of multiple GTR1 and GTR2 homologues in mustard can provide the desired low-seed, high-leaf glucosinolate lines with an uncompromised defence and yield.

Сорт рапса ярового Баланс

The variety Balance was developed by intraspecific hybridization of the variety Viking-VNIIMK and breeding line No 4801 with subsequent selection by self-pollination in 2012–2022 at V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops. In competitive trials, the variety Balance (No 1015) was characterized by consistently high seed yield – 1.49–3.24 t/ha – and exceeded the standard variety Tavrion on average over five years by 0.20 t/ha. In terms of seed oil content, the variety Balance was 0.7 % lower than the standard variety Tavrion but exceeded the standard in oil yield by 0.07 t/ha. The new variety was characterized by larger seeds, thousand-seed weight during the trials years was 3.09 g, while the standard was 2.77 g. The duration of the growing season and the protein content of the seeds were at the level of the standard. The content of glucosinolates in seeds of the new variety differed from the standard insignificantly. In terms of morphobiological traits, the variety Balance was characterized by a lower plant height, but a higher number of lateral branches com-pared to the previous varieties. The onset of flowering and ripening were almost identical to the variety Viking-VNIIMK, and it did not differ from the standard in lodging resistance. Fusarium blight affection and the percentage of manifestation intensity of this dis-ease is lower by 3.5% compared to the variety Tavrion. The variety Balance is recommended for the cultivation for grain in the North-West, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Chernozem, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Lower Volga, Ural, West Siberia, and East Siberia regions of the Russian Federation.

Further insight into decreases in seed glucosinolate content based on QTL mapping and RNA-seq in Brassica napus L.

The QTL hotspots determining seed glucosinolate content instead of only four HAG1 loci and elucidation of a potential regulatory model for rapeseed SGC variation. Glucosinolates (GSLs) are amino acid-derived, sulfur-rich secondary metabolites that function as biopesticides and flavor compounds, but the high seed glucosinolate content (SGC) reduces seed quality for rapeseed meal. To dissect the genetic mechanism and further reduce SGC in rapeseed, QTL mapping was performed using an updated high-density genetic map based on a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from two parents that showed significant differences in SGC. In 15 environments, a total of 162 significant QTLs were identified for SGC and then integrated into 59 consensus QTLs, of which 32 were novel QTLs. Four QTL hotspot regions (QTL-HRs) for SGC variation were discovered on chromosomes A09, C02, C07 and C09, including seven major QTLs that have previously been reported and four novel major QTLs in addition to HAG1 loci. SGC was largely determined by superimposition of advantage allele in the four QTL-HRs. Important candidate genes directly related to GSL pathways were identified underlying the four QTL-HRs, including BnaC09.MYB28, BnaA09.APK1, BnaC09.SUR1 and BnaC02.GTR2a. Related differentially expressed candidates identified in the minor but environment stable QTLs indicated that sulfur assimilation plays an important rather than dominant role in SGC variation. A potential regulatory model for rapeseed SGC variation constructed by combining candidate GSL gene identification and differentially expressed gene analysis based on RNA-seq contributed to a better understanding of the GSL accumulation mechanism. This study provides insights to further understand the genetic regulatory mechanism of GSLs, as well as the potential loci and a new route to further diminish the SGC in rapeseed.

Сорт сурепицы яровой Медовая тип «000»

The variety of spring turnip rape Medovaya is developed by a method of multiple individual selections from the variety Zolotistaya of VNIIMK breeding. In a competitive trial, the new variety exceeded the standard variety Zolotistaya by seed yield in average for three years by 0.21 t/ha. The variety Medovaya is distinguished with higher oil content in seeds exceeding the standard one by 0.3%. Also the new variety have low glucosinolate content in seeds – 13.5 µmol/g. Protein content in seeds of the variety Medovaya is similar to the same trait of the standard variety and equal to 23.72%. However, the summarized oil and protein contents in seeds of the new variety is higher by 1.9% comparing to the standard. The seeds of the variety Medovaya have homogenous yellow color. Thousand-seed weight is 3.0 g and is equal to the standard. The fatty-acid composition of oil corresponds to the demands to salad oils of high quality, having erucic acid content of 2.0%. Oil from the seeds of the variety Medovaya has optimal rate of ɷ-9 : ɷ-6 : ɷ-3 for the health human nutrition. A duration of a growing season of the new variety is 77 days; it is not differed of the standard variety. The short growing season allows cultivating spring turnip rape in regions where the other oil crops cannot realize their potential. So this crop can be a possible reserve to complete the resources of highly qualitative oil and fodder protein.

Mapping-by-Sequencing Reveals Genomic Regions Associated with Seed Quality Parameters in Brassica napus.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil crop and has the potential to serve as a highly productive source of protein. This protein exhibits an excellent amino acid composition and has high nutritional value for humans. Seed protein content (SPC) and seed oil content (SOC) are two complex quantitative and polygenic traits which are negatively correlated and assumed to be controlled by additive and epistatic effects. A reduction in seed glucosinolate (GSL) content is desired as GSLs cause a stringent and bitter taste. The goal here was the identification of genomic intervals relevant for seed GSL content and SPC/SOC. Mapping by sequencing (MBS) revealed 30 and 15 new and known genomic intervals associated with seed GSL content and SPC/SOC, respectively. Within these intervals, we identified known but also so far unknown putatively causal genes and sequence variants. A 4 bp insertion in the MYB28 homolog on C09 shows a significant association with a reduction in seed GSL content. This study provides insights into the genetic architecture and potential mechanisms underlying seed quality traits, which will enhance future breeding approaches in B. napus.

BnVIR: bridging the genotype-phenotype gap to accelerate mining of candidate variations underlying agronomic traits in Brassica napus

BnVIR: bridging the genotype-phenotype gap to accelerate mining of candidate variations underlying agronomic traits in Brassica napus

Результаты предварительного испытания по хозяйственно полезным признакам экспериментальных гибридов рапса озимого селекции ВНИИМК

The purpose of the research was a preliminary estimation of ten experimental hybrids of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) bred in the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops by the primary economically valuable traits. The research was conducted in the central zone of the Krasnodar region in 2019–2020. The results of the research are presented for the first time. On average for two years, nine of ten the best experimental hybrids increased by seeds yield by 0.32–0.76 t per ha both the standard cultivar Loris and the foreign hybrid Mercure. Middle seed yield of the studied hybrids varied significantly, variance range was from 4.99 t per ha (VN-3 × ОРK-10) to 5.62 t per ha (VN-4 × ОРK-20). Maximal values of seed and oil yields per a unit area were fixed for a hybrid combination VN-4 × ОРK-20. Except that, the hybrid is characterized with high weight of 1000 seeds (4.5 g). A hybrid combination VN-13 × ОРK-10 demonstrated high average by years seeds yield (5.33 t per ha) and oil yield (2.25 t per ha).Oil content in seeds and weight of 1000 seeds of this combination were at the level of the standard cultivar and the foreign hybrid. This hybrid shows the lowest glucosinolate content in seeds – 16.7 µmol/g, that is less that the foreign hybrid Mercure has by 2.3 µmol/g. The preliminary conclusion based on our researches is: the selected hybrids after confirmation of the competitive trial results can be of a great interest for production.

Высокопродуктивный сорт сурепицы яровой тип «000» Грация

The spring turnip rapeseed cultivar Gratsiya was developed at the Siberian experimental station – a branch of V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops by multiple individual and family selections from high-yielding, yellowseeded forms of the German cultivar Eldorado. In 2020, we isolated elite plant in the selection nursery by the main agronomic valuable traits: early maturity, high productivity, resistance to lodging, yellow seed color, low content of glucosinolates in the seeds and erucic acid in the oil. According to the results of three years competitive trials (2018–2020), 12 promising numbers with a growing season of 66–70 days were evaluated and a promising high-yielding number 31119 – the cultivar of type “000” Gratsiya was isolated. The cultivar of spring turnip rapeseed Gratsiya exceeded the standard cultivar Pobeda in seed yield by 0.21 t/ha and in oil yield by 0.08 t/ha. By the main agronomic traits, the cultivar Gratsiya differs from the standard one in lower content of glucosinolates in seeds (14.6 µmol/g) and erucic acid in oil (0.43 %). Seedlings are green, without wax coating, the plant is semi-dense, medium-branched, plant height of 120– 135 cm. The fruit is a pod, 5–7 cm long. Seeds are yellow, with an addition of brown – up to 2 %. Thousand-seed weight is 2.5–2.8 g. It is moderately drought-resistant, has uniform ripening, is suitable for mechanical harvesting, and is recommended for cultivation throughout the Russian Federation because of its early maturity.

Breeding of spring turnip rape, Brassica rapa L. var. subsp.campestris (L.) A.R Clapham at All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops

Turnip rape, Brassica rapa L. var. sabsp. Campestris (L.) A.R.Clapham belongs to the large cabbage family (Brassicacea). Spring turnip rape among other oilseeds of the Brassicacea family occupies an important place and can be highly productive in the Northern regions of the European part, in the arid zones of the Lower Volga region, in the northern forest-steppe and subtaiga regions of Western and Eastern Siberia, where the longer growing season sometimes hinders rapeseed to achieve its full potential. Spring turnip rape ripens 13-15 days earlier than rapeseed; it is less heat- and drought-sensitive. However, interest in industrial cultivation of spring turnip rape appeared in the 70s of the last century after the creation of non-erucic and low-glucosinolate varieties, with the oil equivalent to olive oil in its fatty acid composition. Spring turnip rape has been bred at V.S. Pustovoyt All-Russian Research Institute of Oils Crops (VNIIMK) since 1982. The yellow-seeded varieties, Vostochnaya, Yantarnaya, and Zolotistaya, were created. The objective of this research was to find a new promising breeding material for creating varieties of 000-type spring turnip rape from heterogeneous populations of the available VNIIMK varieties. To obtain a new source material, we used the pedigree method, followed by an assessment of the progeny of elite plants isolated from Yantarnaya and Zolotistaya. The result of our six-year efforts was four new promising samples No. 815, 844, 816, and 820, which exceed the standard variety, Zolotistaya, in seed yield by 10-14%. The oil content of seeds of the isolated samples varied from 47.8 to 48.6%, and exceeded the standard variety by 0.3–0.7% in three of them. Promising cultivars either had the same or lower weight of 1000 seeds (2.4-3.0 g), in comparison with Zolotistaya. All selected samples of turnip rape were characterized by a low glucosinolate content in seeds – 13.5–14.5 μmol g-1, and the fatty acid composition corresponded to the requirements for high-quality salad oils with erucic acid levels of 0.04–0.20% and a high content of oleic acid – 65.8–67.4%. After additional assessment, the best variety will be submitted for the State test.

НОВЫЙ СОРТ ЯРОВОГО РАПСА ВЕЛЕС

The results of breeding a promising variety of spring rapeseed 'Veles' are presented. The variety was created using chemical mutagenesis. The seeds of the 'Vikros' variety were treated with ethylmethanesul-fonate at a concentration of 0.03%, followed by the selection of lines characterized by early maturity, re-sistance to lodging, and improved biochemical composition of the seeds. The line № 834-16 is distin-guished by the accelerated development, the changed architectonics of the plant. The growth of lateral shoots begins from the base of the main shoot, the lower internodes are shortened, which increases the resistance of plants to lodging. Side shoots of the first order begin to bloom almost simultaneously with the main shoot. Flowering and maturation of seeds on shoots of different orders takes place simultaneous-ly with the central one, which contributes to the friendly maturation and equalization of the obtained seeds. Seeds are characterized by an increased fat content, contain less fiber. The content of crude fat va-ries from 47.4 to 48.8%, crude protein — 19.7–24.4%, crude fiber — 6.52–7.62%. In the composition of fatty acids, the content of valuable oleic acid is 7.15% higher than of standard. The average seed yield for 3 years of testing is 3.28 t/ha, which is 0.64 t/ha higher than the standard. The line was transferred to the State Commission for Variety Testing and Protection of Breeding Achievements under the name 'Veles'. The variety is resistant to lodging. Guarantees the production of 28–32 t/ha of green mass with a yield of up to 6 t/ha of dry matter. The low content of glucosinolates in seeds (11.6–13.9 mmol/g) will allow the use of seeds, cake and meal when feeding animals in high doses. The variety is approved for use from 2021 in 4 regions of the Russian Federation: North-West, Central, Ural and West Siberian.

Новый сорт рапса ярового Сибиряк 60

In 2020, we submitted the spring rapeseed variety Sibiryak 60 bred at the Siberian Experimental Station (branch of V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops) to the State Commission of the Russian Federation on testing and protection of the selection achievements. We developed the variety by the method of multiple individual-family selection from the variety Avangard (All-Russian Research Institute of Rapeseed, Lipetsk). In 2012, there was identified an elite plant and further breeding work was carried out to improve the main economic traits: early maturity, productivity, oil content, resistance to lodging, seed falling and to the main pathogens. The general characteristics of the variety are high seed productivity and low content of glucosinolates in seeds. According to the results of the competitive variety trial (2018–2020), the spring rapeseed variety Sibiryak 60 exceeded the standard variety Granit in seed yield by 0.29 t/ha and in oil yield by 0.12 t/ha. In the conditions of the Krasnodar region, the variety Sibiryak 60 exceeded the standard variety Granit in seed yield by 0.31 t/ha, in the conditions of the Lipetsk region – by 0.30 t/ha. The new variety is meant to for cultivation for seeds in the Volgo-Vyatka (4), Middle Volga (7), Ural (9), West Siberian (10), and East Siberian (11) regions. The originator of the variety Sibiryak 60 is V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops.

Mining favorable alleles for five agronomic traits from the elite rapeseed cultivar Zhongshuang 11 by QTL mapping and integration

Zhongshuang 11 (ZS11) is an elite inbred rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivar widely planted in the Yangtze River basin for its favorable characteristics including high seed oil content (SOC), low seed glucosinolate content (SGC), long siliques, and stable yield. To transfer the ideal traits from ZS11 into 195-14A, a Polima (pol)-type cytoplasmic male sterile line with high general combining ability, a doubled haploid population derived from the cross of ZS11 and 195-14A was developed. Based on this population, a high-density genetic linkage map covering 2553 cM with an average marker interval of 0.81 cM, was constructed using the Brassica 60K SNP array and simple sequence repeats. In seven environments, 64, 29, 35, 37, and 33 QTL were identified for silique length, seeds per silique, seed density per silique, SOC, and SGC, respectively. Most favorable alleles were from ZS11. Seventy-one consensus QTL were identified by a QTL meta-analysis, eight of which (cqSL–A9–2, cqSL–C7, cqSGC–C2, cqSOC–A5–2, cqSOC–A5–3, cqSPS–A6–2, cqSPS–A7–2, and cqSDPS–A9–2) were assigned as major QTL. Comparative genomics and expression analysis predicted 72 candidate genes underlying the 21 consensus QTL for the five traits. These findings suggest the genetic basis of the superior performance of ZS11 and suggest favorable alleles for development of cultivars with improved yield and quality. These results will assist in cloning these promising alleles in the future.

Сурепица озимая — значение, использование в кормопроизводстве

Presents literature review on the value of biological characteristics, the use of winter turnip rape (Brassica campestris fr. biennis). Brassica campestris fr. biennis is inferior to winter rapeseed in seed productivity, but due to the lower location of the growth point in autumn, it has a potential resistance to freezing. Pods of winter turnip rape, unlike rapeseed, do not crack under adverse weather conditions of harvesting and overstocking on the root. Seed production of winter turnip rape is 1.5–2 times higher than spring. It is characterized by a shorter (10–20 days) growing season compared to winter rapeseed. It requires a smaller amount of effective temperatures in the autumn period, so it is sown 1–2 weeks later than winter rapeseed. Winter turnip rape is the earliest forage crop. It is used in multicomponent mixtures with triticale and vetch for green food. Early harvesting allows you to thoroughly prepare the soil for intermediate and subsequent crops in the crop rotation. As a part of the mixture, it can form more than 32 t/ha of green mass with an output of up to 7 t/ha of dry matter, or up to 5900 feed units and 0.7–1.1 t/ha of raw protein. The preparation of silage feed from winter turnip rape provides high-energy feed with an exchange energy content of 10.51 MJ/kg of dry matter. Both in pure form and in a mixture allow creating a green feed conveyor. It is good honey plant. Seeds and meal of turnip rape have a higher feed value due to the low content of fiber, lignin, glucosinolates and other undesirable substances in them and can be successfully used to compound feeds with protein. The grade of winter turnip rape 'Zarya', created in the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology is used for forage and sideration purposes both in the main and in intermediate sowing. The variety is intended for use on seeds for the production of oil for both food and technical purposes, as well as for use in the green raw material conveyor. The seeds contain 23.8 ± 2% crude protein and 43.9 ± 2.3% crude fat. It is characterized by the absence of erucic acid in the oil, the content of crude fiber in the seeds is 6.41 ± 1.54%. The average content of glucosinolates in seeds is 13.2 mmol/gram. The proportion of essential amino acids in fat-free matter of seeds of winter turnip rape dawn is 46.6–50.1%, of crude protein 37.6 to 40.1%. The amino acid index (the ratio of essential amino acids to non-essential ones) is quite high: 0.8–0.9.

A sulfotransferase gene BnSOT-like1 has a minor genetic effect on seed glucosinolate content in Brassica napus

The theory and associated selection methods of classical quantitative genetics are based on the multifactorial or polygene hypothesis. Major genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL) in modern quantitative genetics based on a “major gene plus polygenes” genetic system have been paid much attention in genetic studies. However, it remains unclear how the numerous minor genes act, although the polygene theory has sustained genetic improvement in plants and animals for more than a hundred years. In the present study, we identified a novel minor gene, BnSOT-like1 (BnaA09g53490D), which is a sulfotransferase (SOT) gene catalyzing the formation of the core glucosinolate (GSL) structure in Brassica napus. This gene has been occasionally found during investigations of plant height-related genes, but has not been identified by QTL mapping because of its small phenotypic effects on GSL content. The overexpression of BnSOT-like1 up-regulated the expression of aliphatic GSL-associated genes, leading to a high seed aliphatic GSL content, and the overexpression of the allelic gene Bnsot-like1 did not increase seed GSL content. These findings suggest that the SOT gene has a marked effect on a quantitative trait from a reverse genetics standpoint, but a minor effect on the quantitative trait in its natural biological state. Because of the redundancy of GSL biosynthetic genes in the allotetraploid species B. napus, mutations of a single functional gene in the pathway will not result in significant phenotypic changes, and that the genes in biosynthetic pathways such as BnSOT-like1 in our study have minor effects and may be called polygenes in contrast to the reported three regulatory genes (BnHAG1s) which strongly affect GSL content in B. napus. The present study has shed light on a minor gene for a quantitative trait.

Chromosome instabilities in resynthesized Brassica napus revealed by FISH

Brassica napus is an allopolyploid plant, derived from spontaneous hybridization between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea. Intensive breeding has led to a significant reduction in genetic and phenotypic diversity within this species. Newly resynthesized hybrids from progenitor species may restore some diversity in B. napus, but they often are chromosomally and phenotypically unstable. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we tested chromosome constitutions in a range of new allopolyploids resynthesized from various parental species. A majority of these allopolyploids were euploid, with the expected chromosome numbers and constitutions, but deviations were also identified. We detected a low level of intergenomic rearrangements in analyzed hybrids and a high level of changes in rDNA loci. Our study revealed a significant effect of maternal cross combination on loss of 35S rDNA loci, especially when B. rapa was the maternal parent. The studied lines were characterized by diversified of pollen viability. In the analyzed hybrids, the erucic acid level in the seed oil ranged from 0 to 43.4% and total glucosinolate content in seeds ranged from 24.3 to 119.2 μmol g−1. Our study shows that cytogenetic analysis of B. napus resynthesized hybrids would be useful in breeding for the selection of lines with important agricultural characters and genetically stable stock seed production.

The Effect of Fertilization with Sulphur, Boron, and Amino Acids on the Content of Glucosinolate in Winter Rape Seeds

The study was carried out in 2016–2019 at the Zawady Agricultural Experimental Station (52°03’ N and 22°33’ E) belonging to the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, in Poland. The field experiment was established in a split-plot design with three replicates. The studied factors were: I. Three winter rape morphotypes: population morphotype (Monolit variety); restored morphotype with traditional growth type (PT248 variety); restored morphotype with a semi-dwarf growth type (PX115 variety); II. Types of foliar nutrition: (1) control variant—sprayed with water, without foliar nutrition and amino acids; (2) biostimulant Aminoplant; (3) foliar fertilizer Siarkomag + foliar fertilizer Bormax; (4) foliar fertilizer Siarkomag + foliar fertilizer Bormax + biostimulant Aminoplant. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of foliar application of sulphur, boron, and amino acids on the content of glucosinolates in seeds of three winter rape morphotypes (Monolit, PX115, and PT248). The foliar feeding applied reduced the feed value of winter rape seeds. On treatments (2, 4), where only amino acids were used or in addition in combination with sulphur and boron, the increase in glucosinolate concentration (GLS) was the largest. Regardless of the type of foliar fertilization used, the Monolit variety contained the lowest concentration of these compounds. The content of glucosinolates in rapeseeds of the studied cultivars varied during the years of the experiment. Studies have shown that the value of this feature increased with the growth of water stress occurring before harvest.

Glucosinolate Content in Dormant and Germinating Arabidopsis thaliana Seeds Is Affected by Non-Functional Alleles of Classical Myrosinase and Nitrile-Specifier Protein Genes.

While the defensive function of glucosinolates is well established, their possible role as a nutrient reservoir is poorly understood and glucosinolate turnover pathways have not been elucidated. Previous research showed that glucosinolate content in germinating seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia-0 (Col-0) increases within the first two to four days on culture medium and then decreases below the level at day 0. In this study we used previously characterized T-DNA mutants to investigate if enzymes known to be involved in glucosinolate breakdown upon tissue damage affect the time course of glucosinolate content in germinating seeds. Besides dormant seeds, we analyzed seeds subjected to stratification in water for up to 72 h or germination on plates for up to ten days. Although seeds of tgg1 tgg2 (deficient in above-ground classical myrosinases) had higher glucosinolate levels than Col-0, the changes during germination were not different to those in seeds of Col-0. This demonstrates that TGG1/TGG2 are not responsible for the decline in glucosinolate content upon germination and suggests the involvement of other enzymes. Expression data extracted from publically available databases show a number of β-glucosidases of the BGLU18–BGLU33 clade to be expressed at specific time points of seed maturation and germination identifying them as good candidates for a role in glucosinolate turnover. Although nitrile-specifier proteins (NSPs) act downstream of myrosinases upon glucosinolate breakdown in tissue homogenates, mutants deficient in either seed-expressed NSP2 or seedling-expressed NSP1 were affected in glucosinolate content in seeds and during stratification or germination when compared to Col-0 indicating a direct role in turnover. The mutant lines nsp1-1, nsp2-1 and nsp2-2 had significantly higher glucosinolate levels in dry seeds than Col-0. After 24 h of stratification in water, nsp2-2 seeds contained 2.3 fold higher levels of glucosinolate than Col-0 seeds. This might indicate downregulation of hydrolytic enzymes when nitrile formation following glucosinolate hydrolysis is impaired. The time course of total glucosinolate content during ten days of germination depended on functional NSP1. Based on the present data, we propose a number of experiments that might aid in establishing the pathway(s) of glucosinolate turnover in germinating A. thaliana seeds.

Breeding of spring turnip rape in the Western Siberia

The territory of the Western Siberia is very suitable for cultivation of cruciferous oil crops (rapeseed and turnip rape) by its biological-climatic potential and soil conditions. Oil crops are widely used for human nutrition, feeding of animals, in any industries and building industry, medicine and perfumery. These crops oil contains many unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, linolenic) which are essential in human nutrition. The main task of turnip rape breeding is productivity increase; much attention is paid to oil increase in seeds and improvements of oil quality (low content of glucosinolates in seeds and erucic acid absence in oil). We presented brief characteristics of released turnip rape varieties: productivity (seed yield, oil content and oil yield) and fatty acid composition of oil. The created varieties are differed with their high adaptability to severe Siberian conditions and resistance to the main bio- and abiofactors of environments.