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Use of Grasshoppers in Bioassay of Thioglucosides in Rapeseed (Brassica napus)

Nature volume 220, pages 174–175 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

THE thioglucoside content of rapeseed (Brassica spp.) varies considerably depending on variety1, environmental conditions (ref. 2 and unpublished work of R. K. Downey and L. R. Wetter), and species3. The seeds contain the following thioglucosides: gluconapin, glucobrassiconapin and progoitrin, and the enzyme myrosinase which can hydrolyse these thioglucosides respectively to 3-butenyl, 4-pentenyl and 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl isothiocyanates4 (ITC). The 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl ITC is not stable and following cyclization produces 5-vinyl-2 oxazolidinethione, commonly called goitrin. Previous investigations showed that these compounds are responsible for depression of growth and thyroid enlargement in non-ruminant animals5. Because rapeseed meal is used as a protein supplement in feeding livestock, it would be desirable either to reduce or completely to eliminate these thioglucosides from rape-seed6.

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References

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Author notes

  1. J. KRZYMANSKI

    Present address: Institute of Plant Breeding, Poznan, Poland

  2. J. KRZYMANSKI: FAO Fellow

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canada Agricultural Research Station, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

    S. H. PAWLOWSKI, P. W. RIEGERT & J. KRZYMANSKI

Authors
  1. S. H. PAWLOWSKI
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  2. P. W. RIEGERT
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  3. J. KRZYMANSKI
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PAWLOWSKI, S., RIEGERT, P. & KRZYMANSKI, J. Use of Grasshoppers in Bioassay of Thioglucosides in Rapeseed (Brassica napus). Nature 220, 174–175 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/220174a0

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