Impact of plant biostimulants on the production of glucosinolates in broccoli

The potential health benefits that have been attributed to broccoli consumption are mainly related with its high glucosinolate content.
The concentration of these and other health-related compounds have been shown to increase with the application of elicitors, molecules that induce plant defense systems by promoting the synthesis of biologically active metabolites.
This work studies the effect of two plant biostimulants (seaweed extract and trilinolein) on the concentration of glucosinolates in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Parthenon’). The biostimulants were applied by irrigation in aqueous solutions at different concentrations: 0.5 and 1 g L^-1 for seaweed extract (treatments SW1 and SW2, respectively), and 1 and 5 mg L^-1 for trilinolein (treatments TL1 and TL2, respectively). After six months, mature broccoli heads were harvested and their glucosinolate content was analysed.
Whereas SW1 had no effect on most indole and aliphatic glucosinolates, SW2 increased both types of compound (about 25 and 40%, respectively), except glucoraphanin and glucoalyssin.
Both TL1 and TL2 decreased glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin and 4-metoxyglucobrassicin concentrations but had no effect on glucoiberin, glucoalyssin and 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin.
In addition, TL1 decreased glucoerucin and neoglucobrassicin.
Finally, treatments with both trilinolein and seaweed extract, at both low and high concentrations, led to an increase in gluconasturtiin (51-94%). In view of the results, the highest dose of the seaweed extract was the most promising treatment for enhancing glucosinolates in broccoli.

VIII International Postharvest Symposium: Enhancing Supply Chain and Consumer Benefits – Ethical and Technological Issues

P. Hellín, E. Novo-Uzal, M.A. Pedreño, J. Cava, I. Garrido, M.V. Molina, J. Fenoll, P. Flores

glucosinolates, phyto-fortificants, antioxidants, bioactive, Brassicaceae

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.16