Abstrakt

In the process of biofumigation typically natural compounds present in Brassicaceae family are used to combat pests and protect crops. Glucosinolates, sulfur-containing secondary metabolites found in Brassica plants, are hydrolized by the enzyme myrosinase (β-thioglucosidase, EC 3.2.3.1) with the liberation of degradation products such as isothiocyanates, nitriles, thiocyanates and epithionitriles. Isothiocyanates are the most bioactive among these compounds and accordingly mosefficient in the suppression of many kinds of herbivoresa and soil born pathogens. Otherglucosinolates degradation products are much less effective, therefore it is desirable todirect the glucosinolates hydrolysis in such way so as to obtain only isothiocyanates as theend products. The goal of our research is to investigate the influence of cultivars and cultivation condition on content of glucosinolates and myrosinase activity in white cabbage (B.oleracea var.capitata). Many factors like environmental conditions may influence myrosinase activity in cabbage as well as the presence of other specifier proteins, which promote formation of thiocyanates, epinitriles or epithionitriles. All these factors determine the yield of isothiocyanates and in consequence, the efficacy of the biofumigation process. In the ideal situation, the content of isothiocyanates should match that of glucosinolates, when myrosinase acts in optimal conditions. In cabbages grown in different regions of Poland, the content of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, as well as myrosinase activity will be determined. On this basic it will be possible to select the cabbage cultivar and cultivation conditions ensuring the highest level of isothiocyanates for use in the biofumigation process.

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