Effect of glucosinolates on Brassica pathogens

Abstract

Brassica species, including important vegetable and oil crops, produce specific secondary metabolites named Glucosinolates (GSLs). Upon cellular disruption caused by necrotrophic pathogens, GSLs are exposed to myrosinases that catalyze their rupture into diverse Glucosinolates Hydrolytic Products (GHPs), considered the bioactive component of this system. This study was accomplished to 1) understand how specific GSLs can modulate disease resistance to two important pathogens affecting Brassica crops worldwide, the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris; 2) identify the molecular mechanism underlying S. sclerotiorum and X. campestris response to exposure to GHPs. This information allow a better understanding of the Brassica-pathogen interaction mediated by GSLs.