Glucosinolates In Rapeseed Research Articles

Seed glucosinolates in rapeseed (Brassica napus) provide sulfur nutrition required for early seedling growth under sulfur limitation

ABSTRACT Brassica crops accumulate specific sulfur (S)-containing compounds, glucosinolates (GSL), in their seeds. GSL function in plant defense, but a few exert toxic effects on animals. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars accumulating low levels of GSL have been bred to avoid the toxic effects of GSL. GSL store S to support early seedling growth in Arabidopsis under S deficiency. In this study, we tested the effects of different S conditions on growth and S metabolism in B. napus cultivars containing high and low GSL concentrations in the seeds (hereafter referred to as high- and low-seed GSL cultivars, respectively) to determine the appropriate fertilizer design for B. napus. Seed S content was lower in the low-seed GSL cultivars than that in the high ones, indicating that seed GSL content can contribute S accumulation in B. napus seeds. Under S-sufficient (+S) and -deficient (–S) conditions, both shoots and roots fresh weights were similar among the cultivars, but the leaves turned yellowish in the low-seed GSL cultivars. The sulfate and cysteine levels in the seedlings were similar among the cultivars, but glutathione content was lower in the low-seed GSL cultivars than that in the high-seed GSL cultivars, especially in the shoots grown under – S conditions. The S levels in the protein fraction were lower in the shoots of the low-seed GSL cultivars than in those of the high-seed GSL cultivars. These results indicated that seed GSL help support early seedling growth in B. napus under – S conditions. S deficiency and lack of GSL affected shoot growth rather than root growth. Thus, we recommend applying S fertilizers to low-seed GSL cultivars and minimizing the use of S fertilizers for high-seed GSL cultivars. This study provides novel insights for designing and applying fertilizers according to the B. napus cultivar and the soil environment.

Determination of biochemical indicators of winter rape seeds under different growing conditions

Purpose. To determine the biochemical indicators of seed quality of winter rape varieties grown under different conditions. Methods. During the research, the following methods were used: laboratory, calculation and statistical, to prepare conclusions – analysis and synthesis. Results. According to the results of laboratory studies, biochemical indicators of the quality of seeds of winter rape varieties, grown in different conditions, were established, namely: the content of oil, “crude protein” and glucosinolates. Meteorological conditions during the vegetation period of plants of the corresponding soil and climate zone have a significant influence on the quality indicators of seeds. Based on the results of the research, it was established that in 2022, compared to 2020, the biochemical indicators of winter rapeseed were higher. The increase in yield by 1.6 t/ha in the Steppe zone, 1.1 t/ha – Forest-Steppe, 1.4 t/ha – Polissia ensured an increase in oil content by 2.4% – Steppe, 6.6% – Forest-Steppe, 6.7% – Polissia and oil collection per hectare by 0.74 t/ha – Steppe and Polissia, 0.62 t/ha – Forest-Steppe. For the content of “crude protein”, a decrease in the index was observed, namely: by 3.1% in the Steppe zone, 5.8% in the Forest-Steppe and 5.0% in the Polissia in 2022 compared to 2020. Meteorological conditions of the research years in the corresponding soil and climatic zones had an influence on the content of glucosinolates. For the Steppe and Forest-Steppe zones, the indicators were identical and amounted to 0.7%, 0.8% (Polissia), while in 2021, for the Steppe and Polissia zones, the content of glucosinolates in rapeseed was 0.8% and 0.9% more, compared to the indicators obtained in other years of research. Conclusions. It was established that, on average, for 2020–2022, the total oil content in seeds of rape was 46.2% – Steppe, 47.5% – Forest-Steppe, 47.8% – Polissia; “crude protein” content – 19.6% – Steppe, 18.4% – Forest-Steppe, 17.9% – Polissia; the content of glucosinolates was 0.7% in the Steppe and Forest-steppe zones, 0.8% in the Polissia; oil collection in the Steppe zone 1.31 t/ha, Forest-Steppe – 1.16 t/ha, Polissia – 1.33 t/ha; protein collection per hectare is 0.54 t/ha in Steppe, 0.44 t/ha in Forest-Steppe and 0.48% in Polissia. Growing conditions over the years of research in the corresponding zone affect the formation of biochemical indicators of winter rapeseed.

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.

Impact of technologically processed rapeseeds on the content of glucosinolates

The purpose of the study is to determine the content of glucosinolates in rapeseed and its processing products, depending on the technological methods of its processing at different processing plants.Materials and methods. The studies were conducted using marketable rapeseed seeds, as well as by-products of its processing into oil - meal and cake. Samples of the initial and final products of processing were selected at those enterprises of Ukraine, which in the last few years have been engaged in processing rapeseed.The biochemical analysis of samples of seeds, meal and cake was performed by known methods.Calculated and analytical research methods were used to analyze the results obtained.Results. The studies have shown that reducing the content of glucosinolates also occurs in the process of industrial processing of commercial rapeseed oil. In the case of oil extraction enterprises, this figure is reduced by 50%, and in enterprises where there are no stages of extraction and toasting - by 25%.The analysis showed that the content of glucosinolates in domestic products of processing rapeseed (cake, meal) at this stage is an average of 25 μmol/g. However, this level is still higher than what is thought to be used in feeding monogastric animals without restriction, since then the content of glucosinolates in these products should not exceed 20 μmol/g.Conclusions. The content of the main anti-nutrients in rapeseed meal/cake of domestic production in the current year was 25,1-25,8 µmol/g d.m., which is still higher than the level that allows to use these products of processing rapeseed in feeding monogastric animals without limits

Effects of dietary rapeseed glucosinolates, sinapic acid and phytic acid on feed intake, growth performance and fish health in turbot (Psetta maxima L.)

Various antinutritional factors (ANF) present in rapeseed protein products can adversely affect the voluntary feed intake, growth performance and physiology as well as health of fish. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate which ANF is primarily responsible for the mentioned effects. Six identical semi-purified diets based on casein were produced. One unsupplemented basal diet (BD) served as control. The remaining five diets were supplemented with graded levels of glucosinolates (low = GL, high = GH), sinapic acid (low = SL, high = SH) and one level of phytic acid (PA). Diets were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima L.) until apparent satiation for 50 days. Voluntary feed intake, growth performance as well as physiology of fish were investigated. Feed intake and growth performance of fish did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) between experimental groups. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased significantly due to dietary phytic acid supplementation (10 g kg−1feed). Also the protein efficiency ratio (PER) showed a strong tendency to decrease in fish fed diet PA (p = 0.0518). Furthermore no significant differences were detected among dietary treatments regarding the proximate final body composition, hepatosomatic index, splenic index and haematocrit of fish. Concentrations of the thyroidal hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in blood plasma were unaffected in all fish fed experimental diets. It was concluded that higher dietary levels of phytic acid, similar to commercial plant-based diets, can adversely affect nutrient utilisation in fish nutrition. Other investigated ANF did not harm fish performance significantly in applied concentrations when supplemented in a pure grade.

Feeding Canola, Camelina, and Carinata Meals to Ruminants.

Simple SummaryThe world population is estimated to reach 9 billion people by 2050, which is estimated to increase the demand for food, fuel, and fiber by 60%. Domesticated ruminants play a vital role in this scenario because they can consume food byproducts that are nonedible for humans, contributing to livestock sustainability. Meals extracted from oilseed plants, such as soybean, canola, carinata, and camelina, are examples of food byproducts. Soybean meal is likely the byproduct most used worldwide, due to its availability and high-quality nutritional composition. However, the dependency on monocultures such as soybean is problematic due to price fluctuation and, in some countries, import dependency. Canola, camelina, and carinata meals have been investigated in the past two decades. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the results from studies in which canola, camelina, and carinata meal were fed to ruminants in order to evaluate how comparable these are to soybean meal and other common protein supplements in terms of animal digestion and performance. Based on this review, we conclude that canola meal is at least as good as soybean meal; and that camelina and carinata meal can be a valuable alternative feedstuff for livestock animals.Soybean meal (SBM) is a byproduct from the oil-industry widely used as protein supplement to ruminants worldwide due to its nutritional composition, high protein concentration, and availability. However, the dependency on monocultures such as SBM is problematic due to price fluctuation, availability and, in some countries, import dependency. In this context, oilseeds from the mustard family such as rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus and Brassica campestris), camelina (Camelina sativa), and carinata (Brassica carinata) have arisen as possible alternative protein supplements for ruminants. Therefore, the objective of this comprehensive review was to summarize results from studies in which canola meal (CM), camelina meal (CMM), and carinata meal (CRM) were fed to ruminants. This review was based on published peer-reviewed articles that were obtained based on key words that included the oilseed plant in question and words such as “ruminal fermentation and metabolism, animal performance, growth, and digestion”. Byproducts from oil and biofuel industries such as CM, CMM, and CRM have been evaluated as alternative protein supplements to ruminants in the past two decades. Among the three plants reviewed herein, CM has been the most studied and results have shown an overall improvement in nitrogen utilization when animals were fed CM. Camelina meal has a comparable amino acids (AA) profile and crude protein (CP) concentration to CM. It has been reported that by replacing other protein supplements with CMM in ruminant diets, similar milk and protein yields, and average daily gain have been observed. Carinata meal has protein digestibility similar to SBM and its CP is highly degraded in the rumen. Overall, we can conclude that CM is at least as good as SBM as a protein supplement; and although studies evaluating the use of CMN and CRM for ruminants are scarce, it has been demonstrated that both oilseeds may be valuable feedstuff for livestock animals. Despite the presence of erucic acid and glucosinolates in rapeseed, no negative effect on animal performance was observed when feeding CM up to 20% and feeding CMN and CRM up to 10% of the total diet.

QTL Mapping of Seed Glucosinolate Content Responsible for Environment in Brassica napus.

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are a major class of secondary metabolites. The content of seed GSL is largely regulated by environments in rapeseed (Brassica napus). However, the genetic control of seed GSL content responsible for environment in B. napus has been poorly understood. In the current study, a doubled haploid (DH) population from a cross between winter and semi-winter lines of rapeseed was grown in two distinct eco-environments, Germany and China, to evaluate the eco-environment effect and dissect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) responsible for environment for seed GSL in rapeseed. The deviation value of GSL content between eco-environments (GSLE) was calculated for each line in the DH population and the QTLs for GSLE were detected. GSLE ranged from −46.90 to 36.13 μmol g−1 meal in the DH population, suggesting the prominent eco-environmental effects for seed GSL in rapeseed. Four QTLs for GSLE were identified on chromosomes A04, A06, and A09 explaining 4.70∼9.93% of the phenotypic variation. Comparison of QTLs of seed GSL content between different eco-environments found three QTLs for GSL on A02 from 37.6 to 45.4 cM, A04 from 0 to 17.2 cM, and A09 from 67.0 to 98.6 cM exhibited significant difference of QTL effect between the German and Chinese eco-environments (P < 0.01), indicating the environment sensibility of these loci on seed GSL content. Moreover, flowering time (FT), an important environment adaptation trait in plant, was also investigated in this study. Comparative QTL analysis among GSLE, GSL, and FT revealed that three regions on chromosomes A02, A04, and A09 not only exhibited significant differences in QTL effect between Germany and China, but also co-located with the QTL intervals of GSLE and FT. Our results revealed that most of the GSL loci can influence GSL accumulation under different eco-environments, whereas the three QTL intervals on A02, A04, and A09 might be sensitive to the eco-environments for seed GSL content.

Identification of Candidate Genes for Seed Glucosinolate Content Using Association Mapping in Brassica napus L.

Rapeseed contains glucosinolates, a toxic group of sulfur-containing glucosides, which play critical roles in defense against herbivores and microbes. However, the presence of glucosinolates in rapeseed reduces the value of the meal as feed for livestock. We performed association mapping of seed glucosinolate (GS) content using the 60K Brassica Infinium single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in 520 oilseed rape accessions. A total of 11 peak SNPs significantly associated with GS content were detected in growing seasons of 2013 and 2014 and were located on B. napus chromosomes A08, A09, C03, and C09, respectively. Two associated regions of GS content covered by these markers were further verified, and three B. napus homologous genes involved in the biosynthesis and accumulation of GS were identified. These genes were multigene family members and were distributed on different chromosomes. Moreover, two genes (BnGRT2 and BnMYB28) associated with GS content were validated by the qRT-PCR analysis of their expression profiles. The further identification and functionalization of these genes will provide useful insight into the mechanism underlying GS biosynthesis and allocation in B. napus, and the associated SNPs markers could be helpful for molecular maker-assisted breeding for low seed GS in B. napus.

Identification and Quantification of Glucosinolates in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Sprouts Cultivated under Dark and Light Conditions

BACKGROUND: This study was performed for the identification and quantification of glucosinolate (GSL) contents in seven varieties of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) sprouts cultivated under dark and light conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Crude glucosinolates (GSLs) were desulfated by treating with aryl sulfatase and purified using diethylaminoethyl sepharose (DEAE) anion exchange column. Individual GSLs were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Eleven GSLs including six aliphatic (progoitrin, sinigrin, glucoalyssin, gluconapoleiferin, gluconapin, and glucobrassicanapin), four indolyl (4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, and neoglucobrassicin) and one aromatic (gluconasturtiin) were identified based on the fragmentation patterns of MS spectrum. Aliphatic GSLs were noted as the predominant group with average 85.2% of the total contents. The most abundant GSLs were progoitrin which was ranged at dry weight (DW). The highest total GSL amounts were documented in 'Hanra' ( DW) under light condition and 'Mokpo No. 68' ( DW) in dark condition, whereas the lowest was in 'Tamra' (30.13 and DW) in both conditions. The sum of aliphatic GSLs attributed > 80% in all varieties, except 'Tamra' (67.7% and 64.9% in dark and light conditions, respectively) in the total GSL accumulation. Indolyl GSLs were ranged DW, accounted 2.78-33.6% of the total GSLs in rapeseed varieties. CONCLUSION(S): These results provide valuable information regarding potential beneficial GSL contents individually. This study attempts to contribute to knowledge of the nutritional properties of the different varieties of rapeseed plants. These results may be useful for the evaluation of dietary information.

Glucosinolates in rapeseed as antinutritive factors in animal nutrition

Rapeseed has multiple purposes: animal nutrition, production of oil and biodiesel. Content of oil and protein in dry seeds of rapeseed is 40-47% and 19-29%, respectively. However, the seed also contains harmful substances: glucosinolates, erucic acid, phytate and tannin. This paper describes the importance of rapeseed in animal nutrition and shows the possibility of its inclusion in animal meal depending on the content of glucosinolates. The main antinutritive factors present in this oil crop are glucosinolates, therefore this paper shows their biological effect in animal nutrition and their detoxification. Canola varieties have reduced glucosinolate content and they have almost entirely superseded the old varieties of rapeseed. Glucosinolates alone are biologically inactive molecules, but their degradation products are biologically active and well known for their diverse biological effects. The degree of negative impact of glucosinolates in the diet of animals depends on their level and composition of formed degradation products, but also the species and age of animals. In order to reduce glucosinolate content different methods are used which include their hydrolysis or decomposition before feeding the animals.

Selection of Variables Based on Most Stable Normalised Partial Least Squares Regression Coefficients in an Ensemble Monte Carlo Procedure

A modification of ensemble Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination (EMCUVE) is proposed, which does not involve the use of random variables, with the aim of improving the performance of partial least squares (PLS) regression models, increasing the consistency of results and reducing processing time by selecting the most informative variables in a spectral dataset. The proposed method (ensemble Monte Carlo variable selection—EMCVS) and the robust version (REMCVS) were compared to PLS models and with the existing EMCUVE method using three near infrared (NIR) datasets, i.e. prediction of n-butanol in a five-solvent mixture, moisture in corn and glucosinolates in rapeseed. The proposed methods were more consistent, produced models with better predictive accuracy (lower root mean squared error of prediction) and required less computational time than the conventional EMCUVE method on these datasets. In this application, the proposed method was applied to PLS regression coefficients but it may, in principle, be used on any regression vector.

Influence of various iodine supplementation levels and two different iodine species on the iodine content of the milk of cows fed rapeseed meal or distillers dried grains with solubles as the protein source

Supplementation of animal feed with iodine influences the iodine content of milk and therefore, in addition to salt iodination, provides another possibility for improving the human iodine supply. On the other hand, excessive iodine intake by humans through drinking milk must be avoided. Furthermore, the iodine content of milk varies, depending on the presence of iodine antagonists in feed (e.g., glucosinolates in rapeseed) and the applied iodine species. This study evaluated the impact of various feed iodine supplementation levels up to the permitted maximum level, the effect of applying rapeseed compared with a glucosinolate-free ration, and the impact of 2 different iodine species on the iodine content of milk. A total of 32 dairy cows were divided into 4 groups with 8 animals each. Two groups received distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as the protein source, and the others received rapeseed meal (RSM, 16.5% of total diet). In each case, half the animals received feed supplemented with iodine in the form of potassium iodide, and the other half received feed supplemented with iodine in the form of calcium iodate. Iodine supplementation levels of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5mg/kg of dry matter (DM) were tested in consecutive periods of 21 d each. The milk iodine concentration increased with increasing iodine supplementation of the feed. Rapeseed meal in the ration (0.58mmol of glucosinolates/kg of diet DM) diminished the milk iodine concentration by up to one-half to one-third of the concentration achieved by DDGS. At iodine supplementation levels of 2mg/kg of DM and higher, the differences were significant. The application of iodate predominantly resulted in higher milk iodine concentrations compared with iodide, but not significantly in any period. At the highest tested iodine supplementation (5mg/kg of DM), the milk iodine concentration increased up to 1,464 (iodide) and 1,578μg/kg (iodate) when feeding DDGS and up to 718 (iodide) and 620μg/kg (iodate) in the RSM groups. The carry over of iodine from feed into milk amounted to 30 to 56% when using DDGS, and 11 to 25% when using RSM. The maximum level of iodine currently allowed in the feed of dairy cows in Europe could lead to high milk iodine concentrations. As a result, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level in human nutrition could be exceeded. Therefore, this maximum level needs to be reevaluated. In addition to iodine supplementation, the application of RSM in the ration must be considered when estimating the iodine content of milk.

Identification and quantification of glucosinolates in rapeseed using liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive method for the speciation and quantification of glucosinolates in rapeseed is described. The method combines liquid chromatography (LC) with ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) detection. Electrospray ionization (ESI) has been chosen as the ionization technique for the on-line coupling of LC with ITMS. Glucosinolates are extracted from different rapeseeds with MeOH and the extracts are cleaned-up by solid phase extraction with Florisil cartridges. Aqueous extracts are injected into LC system coupled to an ITMS, leading to accurately quantify eight of the most important glucosinolates in rapeseed, by MS2 mode and confirming their structure by MS3 acquisition. All the glucosinolates found in rapeseeds provide good signals corresponding to the deprotonated precursor ion [M-H]-. The method is reliable and reproducible, and detection limits range from 0.5 nmol g(-1) to 3.7 nmol g(-1) when 200 mg of dried seeds of certified reference material are analyzed. Within-day and between-day RSD percentages range between 2.4-14.1% and 3.9-16.9%, respectively. The LC-ESI-ITMS-MS method described here allows for a rapid assessment of these metabolites in rapeseed without a desulfatation step. The overall process has been successfully applied to identify and quantify glucosinolates in rapeseed samples.

Determination of Glucosinolates in Rapeseeds by Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Mass Spectrometry

A reliable method of separating and identifying glucosinolates in rapeseed has been developed by using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with confirmation by electrospray mass spectrometry and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Volatile ion‐pairing regent and acetic acid was added to modify the mobile phase. After extraction, deproteinization, and centrifugation, glucosinolates were first purified by a column packed with Diethylaminoethyl‐(DEAE)‐sephadex A‐25 and then were injected into the chromatographic system. Confirmation of identity was accomplished using both negative‐ion electrospray mass spectrometry and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Seven species of glucosinolates were determined by using this method. The authors thank Mr. Tongqing Zhang in Zhejiang Agricultural Science Institution for providing MS support.

Determination of glucosinolates in rapeseed and Thlaspi caerulescens plants by liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was used to identify glucosinolates in plant extracts. Optimization of the analytical conditions and the determination of the method detection limit was performed using commercial 2-propenylglucosinolate (sinigrin). Optimal values for the following parameters were determined: nebulization pressure, gas temperature, flux of drying gas, capillar voltage, corona current and fragmentor conditions. The method detection limit for sinigrin was 2.85 ng. For validation of the method the glucosinolates in reference material (rapeseed) from the Community Bureau of Reference Materials (BCR) were analyzed. The method was applied for the determination of glucosinolates in Thlaspi caerulescens plants.

Biosensing of rapeseed glucosinolates using amperometric enzyme electrodes based on membrane‐bound glucose oxidase or tyrosinase

AbstractSinigrin, the β‐D‐thioglucoside of the cruciferous plant species was hydrolyzed for 15 min at pH 7 and 30°C by the enzyme myrosinase to liberate glucose and mustard oil allylisothiocyanate as aglucone. A Clark‐type pO2 sensor overlaid with a glucose oxidase + catalase membrane served for the glucose measurements, whereas the isothiocyanate component was measured (after conversion to allylthiourea) from the inhibition degree of a tyrosinase membrane/pO2 sensor. The total amounts of glucosinolates found with the glucose probe in six assorted samples of rapeseed meal and evaluated in sinigrin equivalents (13.6 −147 μmol/g) agreed with those obtained using gas chromatography as the reference. Poor agreement (results: 111.4–112.3%) was achieved when a different method of fat removal was used prior to electroanalysis. The amounts of progoitrin (not convertible to thiourea) estimated indirectly from the difference of both the glucose and the aglucone biosensor analyses were found to be in the range 6.2–103 μmol/g (44.3–83.8% of the total glucosinolates).

Measurement of glucosinolates in rapeseeds.

Several ring tests have been organized by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) and the Measurement and Testing Programme (BCR) for improving glucosinolate methods. Finally, HPLC of desulphoglucosinolates is recommended by ISO, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), and the European Commission (EC) as the official method. X-ray fluorescence has also become particularly common for fast analysis. After checking stability of intact glucosinolates in whole rapeseeds, the BCR has three reference materials (CRM 366, CRM 190, CRM 367) available, certified for their total glucosinolate and sulphur contents. Currently, the Measurement and Testing Programme is supporting a research project concerning the stability of desulphoglucosinolates and intact glucosinolates extracts. At the present time, best results are observed with lyophilized extracts sealed in brown glass ampoules and stored at -18 degrees C.

Biosynthesis and partitioning of individual glucosinolates between pod walls and seeds and evidence for the occurrence of PAPS:desulphoglucosinolate sulphotransferase in seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napusL.)

35 SO 4 2- and 35 S-labelled glucosinolate precursors were administered to intact whole-pods and seeds to investigate the capacity of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) pod tissues to carry out reactions of the glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway. 35 S-desulphobut-3-enyl and 35 S-desulphoindol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolates were converted to their sulphonated intact-glucosinolate homologues by isolated immature seeds. A neutral sulphur-containing fraction was isolated from pod walls and shown to be associated with glucosinolate biosynthesis. Further purification of this fraction showed the presence of desulphoglucosinolates, the penultimate intermediates in the glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway. Chemical characterization and quantification of these intermediates showed that their types and levels corresponded to the glucosinolate biosynthetic activity of pod-wall tissues. 'Partition quotients' (Pq) were calculated for individual glucosinolates from 35 S-labelling data and used to describe the apportionment of newly synthesized glucosinolates between pod walls and seeds. Results from continuous feeding studies with pods and 35 SO 4 2- indicated that individual rapeseed glucosinolates have characteristic Pq values.

Rapeseed meal-glucosinolates and their antinutritional effects. Part 3. Animal growth and performance.

On the basis of literature data biological properties of rapeseed glucosinolates, and especially their influence on the growth and weight of animals were characterized. The aim was to determine a limiting value of these compounds in diets for particular animal species and age groups at which no limitation of growth or development was observed.

Rapeseed meal-glucosinolates and their antinutritional effects. Part 4. Goitrogenicity and internal organs abnormalities in animals.

This paper surveys the literature concerning biological properties of rapeseed glucosinolates, chiefly the goitrogenic activity of these compounds and their influence on the morphological and histological abnormalities of internal organs in animals. An attempt has been made to establish threshold glucosinolate levels in diet which trigger the onset or increase of internal organs impairment in animals depending on their species and breeding.