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Glucosinolates (GSLs) and GSL-associated genes are receiving increasing attention from molecular biologists due to their multifunctional properties. GSLs are secondary metabolites considered to be highly active in most Brassica species. Their importance has motivated the discovery and functional analysis of the GSLs and GSL hydrolysis products involved in disease development in brassicas and other plants. Comprehensive knowledge of the GSL content of Brassica species and the molecular details of GSL-related genes will help elucidate the molecular control of this plant defense system. This report provides an overview of the current status of knowledge on GSLs, GSL biosynthesis, as well as hydrolysis related genes, and GSL hydrolysis products that regulate fungal, bacterial, and insect resistance in cabbage and other brassicas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of nine exotic cabbage varieties and a local variety commenced at the Research Field of the Department of Agriculture, Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), Bangladesh, following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. This study aimed to identify the most suitable exotic varieties based on morphophysiological and biochemical traits compared with a check variety. Significant variations (P < 0.01) for all the characteristics, except chlorophyll content, emerged from the study. A highly significant positive association (r ≥ 0.75) was evident for the head diameter of cabbage varieties with head width, stump thickness, core length, and weight with folded and unfolded leaves. On cluster analysis, varieties V2, V3, and V10 were in the same clusters. About the PCA, PC1 accounted for 50.29% of the total variation. However, the maximum plant diameter (65 cm) occurred in V10, and the widest leaf petiole length (8.13 cm) was visible in V3. Yet, the highest head length (13.16 cm), head diameter (19.51 cm), head width (18.33 cm), weight with unfolded leaves (2.00 kg), and weight with folded leaves (1.44 kg) appeared in V10, which are very close to V2 and V3. Also, genetic parameters estimation and heatmap analysis revealed high genetic advance and positive variation, respectively, regarding head diameter, head width, and weight with folded and unfolded leaves. Finally, V2 and V3 varieties could better serve for further genetic improvement for cabbage growers and plant breeders in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is the most popular leafy vegetable; however, its quality as a vegetable depends on its growth stage. Premature bolting triggered by low temperatures leads to a reduction of yield and quality of cabbage. Late bolting is preferred by growers to increase market value, whereas early bolting plants are ideal for quality seed production. Herein, we reported a gene BolPrx.2 annotated as Q9FLC0 in the SwissPort, involved in bolting time variation in cabbage and designed molecular markers to characterize early- and late-bolting cabbage populations and lines. The BolPrx.2 gene encodes a peroxidase domain and has been identified as a candidate showed almost similar effect as the previously reported MADS-box domain-containing FLC genes for controlling bolting time. An insertion/deletion (InDel) variation in intron1 has been identified as a causal factor for variation between late- and early-bolting inbred lines. By using this InDel, we designed molecular markers for characterizing the bolting time variation and validated them with 141 F2 generation plants. These markers predicted about 84% of the variation within the population and commercial lines. Therefore, it could be a potential genetic tool to predict bolting time variation and support marker-assisted back crossing (MABC) programs for developing desired bolting types of cabbage cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is popular worldwide for consumption as a leafy vegetable. Premature flowering is triggered by low temperature, and deteriorates quality of cabbage as vegetable. In general, growers prefer late-flowering varieties to assure good quality compact head. Here, we report BoFLC1.C9 as a gene with clear sequence variation between cabbage lines with different flowering times, and proposed as molecular marker to characterize early- and late-flowering cabbage lines. Results: We identified sequence variation of 67 bp insertions in intron 2, which were contributed in flowering time variation between two inbred lines through rapid down-regulation of the BoFLC1.C9 gene in early-flowering line compared to late-flowering one upon vernalization. One set of primer 'F7R7' proposed as marker, of which was explained with 83 and 80% of flowering time variation in 141 F2 individuals and 20 commercial lines, respectively. Conclusions: This F7R7 marker could be used as genetic tools to characterize flowering time variation and to select as well to develop early- and late-flowering cabbage cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia stem rot (white mold), caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a serious disease of Brassica crops worldwide. Despite considerable progress in investigating plant defense mechanisms against this pathogen, which have revealed the involvement of glucosinolates, the host–pathogen interaction between cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and S. sclerotiorum has not been fully explored. Here, we investigated glucosinolate profiles and the expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes in white-mold-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) lines of cabbage after infection with S. sclerotiorum. The simultaneous rise in the levels of the aliphatic glucosinate glucoiberverin (GIV) and the indolic glucosinate glucobrassicin (GBS) was linked to white mold resistance in cabbage. Principal component analysis showed close association between fungal treatment and cabbage GIV and GBS contents. The correlation analysis showed significant positive associations between GIV content and expression of the glucosinolate biosynthesis genes ST5b-Bol026202 and ST5c-Bol030757, and between GBS content and the expression of the glucosinolate biosynthesis genes ST5a-Bol026200 and ST5a-Bol039395. Our results revealed that S. sclerotiorum infection of cabbage induces the expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes, altering the content of individual glucosinolates. This relationship between the expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes and accumulation of the corresponding glucosinolates and resistance to white mold extends the molecular understanding of glucosinolate-negotiated defense against S. sclerotiorum in cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ringspot, caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella brassicicola, is a serious disease of Brassica crops worldwide. Despite noteworthy progress to reveal the role of glucosinolates in pathogen defense, the host–pathogen interaction between cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and M. brassicicola has not been fully explored. Here, we investigated the glucosinolate profiles and expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes in the ringspot-resistant (R) and susceptible (S) lines of cabbage after infection with M. brassicicola. The concomitant rise of aliphatic glucoiberverin (GIV) and indolic glucobrassicin (GBS) and methoxyglucobrassicin (MGBS) was linked with ringspot resistance in cabbage. Pearson's correlation and principle component analysis showed a significant positive association between GIV contents and the expression of the glucosinolate biosynthesis gene ST5b-Bol026202 and between GBS contents and the expression of the glucosinolate biosynthesis gene MYB34-Bol017062. Our results confirmed that M. brassicicola infection induces the expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes in cabbage, which alters the content of individual glucosinolates. This link between the expression of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes and the accumulation of their respective glucosinolates with the resistance to ringspot extends our molecular sense of glucosinolate-negotiated defense against M. brassicicola in cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acidovorax citrulli (A. citrulli) strains cause bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) in cucurbit crops and affect melon significantly. Numerous strains of the bacterium have been isolated from melon hosts globally. Strains that are aggressively virulent towards melon and diagnostic markers for detecting such strains are yet to be identified. Using a cross-inoculation assay, we demonstrated that two Korean strains of A. citrulli, NIHHS15-280 and KACC18782, are highly virulent towards melon but avirulent/mildly virulent to the other cucurbit crops. The whole genomes of three A. citrulli strains isolated from melon and three from watermelon were aligned, allowing the design of three primer sets (AcM13, AcM380, and AcM797) that are specific to melon host strains, from three pathogenesis-related genes. These primers successfully detected the target strain NIHHS15-280 in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays from a very low concentration of bacterial gDNA. They were also effective in detecting the target strains from artificially infected leaf, fruit, and seed washing suspensions, without requiring the extraction of bacterial DNA. This is the first report of PCR-based markers that offer reliable, sensitive, and rapid detection of strains of A. citrulli causing BFB in melon. These markers may also be useful in early disease detection in the field samples, in seed health tests, and for international quarantine purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]