Phytoalexins are abundant in edible crucifers and have important biological activities, yet no dedicated gene for their biosynthesis is known. Here, we report two new cytochromes P450 from Brassica rapa (Chinese cabbage) that catalyze unprecedented S-heterocyclizations in cyclobrassinin and spirobrassinin biosynthesis. Our results provide genetic and biochemical insights into the biosynthesis o...

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is considered the most universally distributed of all Lepidoptera and the main insect pest of crucifers worldwide. Although P. xylostella is confined to feeding on plants within the Cruciferae, this diverse family contains a wide host of weed species and cultivated plants that occur throughout the world. Over the last several decades the importanc...

A decade ago the concept of the Ancestral Crucifer Karyotype (ACK) and the definition of 24 conserved genomic blocks was presented. Subsequently, 35 cytogenetic reconstructions and/or draft genome sequences of crucifer species (members of the Brassicaceae family) have been analyzed in the context of this system; placing crucifers at the forefront of plant phylogenomics. In this review, we highl...

Plant-based diets rich in crucifers are effective in preventing cancer and other chronic diseases. Crucifers contain very high concentrations of glucosinolates (GS; β-thioglucoside-N-hydroxysulfates). Although not themselves protective, GS are converted by coexisting myrosinases to bitter isothiocyanates (ITC) which defend plants against predators. Coincidentally, ITC also induce mammalian gene...

The past 10 years have seen the discovery of unexpected levels of conservation of gene content and gene orders over millions of years of evolution within grasses, crucifers, legumes, some trees, and Solanaceae crops. Within the grasses, which include the three 500-million-ton-plus-per-year crops (wheat, maize, and rice), and the crucifers, which include all the Brassica crops, colinearity looks...

Indole phytoalexins from crucifers have been shown to exhibit significant anti-cancer, chemopreventive, and antiproliferative activity. Phytoalexins are natural low molecular antimicrobial compounds that are synthesized and accumulated in plants after their exposure to pathogenic microorganisms. Most interestingly, crucifers appear to be the only plant family producing sulfur-containing indole ...

the development, survival, and reproduction of diamondback moth (dbm), plutella xylostella (l.), were studied in laboratory at 25±1°c, 65±5% rh and a 14l: 10d hours photoperiodism on five host plants of: cauliflower (brassica oleracea l. var. botrytis), two varieties of cabbage (b. oleracea l. var. capitata) namely ‘globe master’ and ‘scarlet ohara’, kohlrabi (b. oleracea l. var. gongylodes), a...

The cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis (F.) is a major pest of cruciferous vegetables in the lowlands of Malaysia. The common host plants include cabbage, radish, cauliflower, Chinese kale, Chinese mustard and the Cleome weed spp. Damage by cabbage webworm is particularly serious on cabbage because damage on the shoot by a single larva can cause either death of the plant or production of unmarket...

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is a necrotrophic bacterial pathogen of crucifers. We report here the draft genome sequences of isolates ICMP 4013 and ICMP 21080 from New Zealand. These sequences will facilitate the identification of race-specific factors in X. campestris pv. campestris.