Timing of flowering is key to the reproductive success of many plants. In temperate climates, flowering is often coordinated with seasonal environmental cues such as temperature and photoperiod. Vernalization, the process by which a prolonged exposure to the cold of winter results in competence to flower during the following spring, is an example of the influence of temperature on the timing of...

Experimental infections of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) with genomically characterized plant pathogens such as Pseudomonas syringae have facilitated the dissection of canonical eukaryotic defence pathways and parasite virulence factors. Plants are also attacked by herbivorous insects, and the development of an ecologically relevant genetic model herbivore that feeds on Arabidopsis will en...

Epidemiologic studies suggest a protective effect of cruciferous vegetables on breast cancer. Sulforaphane (SFN), an active food component derived from crucifers, has been shown to be effective in breast cancer chemoprevention. This study evaluated the chemopreventive effect of SFN on selective biomarkers from blood and breast tissues. In a 2- to 8-week double-blinded, randomized controlled tri...

Gram-negative bacteria use the type II secretion (T2S) system to secrete exoproteins for attacking animal or plant cells or to obtain nutrients from the environment. The system is unique in helping folded proteins traverse the outer membrane. The secretion machine comprises multiple proteins spanning the cell envelope and a cytoplasmic ATPase. Activity of the ATPase, when copurified with the cy...

The myrosinase-glucosinolate system is involved in a range of biological activities affecting herbivorous insects, plants and fungi. The system characteristic of the order Capparales includes sulphur-containing substrates, the degradativc enzymes myrosinases, and cofactors. The enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of glucosinolates initially involves cleavage of the thioglucoside linkage, yielding D-glu...

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L), has been recorded in Malaysia since 1925. From 1941, it has been the major pest of crucifers grown in the Cameron Highlands and in the lowlands. The insect occurs in high numbers in the drier periods of the year and control has been mainly with the use of insecticides. The indiscriminate use of insecticides on DBM has led to the development o...

This work aimed to study the interaction between the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), the pathogen responsible for black rot of crucifers. The response of 32 accessions of A. thaliana to the Brazilian isolate of Xcc CNPH 17 was evaluated. No immunity-like response was observed. “CS1308”, “CS1566” and “CS1643” grown in continuous light were among ...

Cruciferous crops on Guam are infested by cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis (F.), cabbage cluster caterpillar, Crocidolomia pavonana Zeller, mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Davis), armyworm, Spodoptera litura (F.), flea hopper, Halticus tibialis (Reuter), fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (F.), leaf miners, Liriomyza spp., diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), corn earworm, Helicoverpa armige...

S-Methylcysteine has been isolated from the nonprotein nitrogen fractions of cabbage, turnips, and several other crucifers, and the structure of the amino acid was established by chemical studies and by comparison with a synthetic material (14). Subsequently, this compound has been found in garlic and onion (5)) kidney bean seeds (6)) Neurospora crassa (7)) and the hemolymph of Prod&a ericlenia...

The cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi Baly (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a serious pest of crucifers in China, undergoes summer or winter diapause in the soil as an adult. In the present study, the incidence of diapause were measured in reciprocal crosses between a high-diapause strain (HD strain) and a laboratory-selected nondiapausing strain (ND strain) under different photoperiods and temp...