Determination of glucosinolate contents in Brassica germplasm collections and inter- & intra-leaves distribution pattern using UPLC-MS/MS Multiple Reaction Monitoring scan mode

Intact glucosinolate (GSL) profile (five aliphatic; three aromatic, and one indolic glucosinolate) in the leaves of 50 germplasm collections and commercial cultivars of Brassica rapa, Brassica juncea, and Brassica oleracea collected from six different countries and grown under uniform cultural conditions were compared by UPLC-MS/MS. Total GSLs content ranged from 36.80 to 2383.12 mol/kg DW. Aliphatic GSLs predominated among the entire samples representing from 23.0 to 98.9% of the total GSLs content, where gluconapin and glucobrassicanapin contributed the greatest proportion. Other GSLs such as, progoitrin (PRO), glucotropaeolin (TRO), and glucobarbarin (BAR) were found in relatively low concentrations. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) yielded three principal components with eigenvalue [≥] 1, representing 70.33% of the total variation across the entire data set. Accessions IT260822 & IT32750, and commercial cultivar, \"Hangamssam2\", were well distinguished from other samples in the PCA plot due to their significantly high amount of BAR, glucobrassicin (GBC), and glucoerucin (ERU), respectively. The inter- and intra-leaf variations of GSLs were examined in three kimichi cabbage varieties. The GSLs content varied significantly among leaves in different positions (outer, middle, and inner) and sections within the leaves (top, middle, bottom, green/red, and white). Higher GSL contents were observed in the proximal half & white section of the leaves and inner positions (younger leaves) in most of the samples. GBC, gluconasturtiin (NAS), and glucoberteroin (BER) should be studied profusely in Brassica plants as some of their degradation products of GBC and NAS are useful in cancer chemopreventive functions, whereas BER takes part in the process of suppressing aging of the skin. GSLs are regarded as allelochemicals; hence, the data related to the patterns of GSLs within the leaf and between leaves at different position could be useful to understand the defense mechanism of Brassica plants. The observed variability could be useful for breeders to develop Brassica crops with high GSL content or specific profiles of GSLs as required.