Abstract Detail

Crops and Wild Relatives

Sagi, Tyler Joseph [1], Reicholf, Rebecca [2], Drenovsky, Rebecca [3], Alnazer, Lena [1].

Does drought influence glucosinolate production in agricultural and floricultural mustard species?

Cruciferous varieties of the species B. oleracea are greater than a billion dollar annual industry in the United States. Their distinctive odor and flavor, as well as their antioxidant capacity are due to the production of a class of secondary metabolites known as glucosinolates. These sulfur-rich compounds function in herbivore defense, but also have been hypothesized to play a role in drought tolerance. Previous experiments have shown that glucosinolate production can increase under drought conditions in rapeseed, broccoli, radish, turnip, and Abyssinian mustard, with researchers proposing that the glucosinolates may act as compatible solutes, supporting water uptake under drying soil conditions. However, no studies have grown a broad suite of mustards taxa under common garden conditions while simultaneously exposing plants to contrasting soil moisture conditions. Our objective is to grow a suite of seven agricultural and floricultural taxa in the greenhouse under well-watered and drought conditions. We will measure plant growth, biomass allocation, and total glucosinolate production following treatment for two months. We expect that those plants experiencing drought will be smaller, allocate proportionately more biomass to root production, and produce higher total glucosinolate concentrations compared to plants grown under well-watered conditions. Given the hypothesized anti-cancer role this class of secondary metabolites may play, understanding how to upregulate their production, while minimizing adverse impacts on yield, may be informative to the agricultural industry.

1 - John Carroll University, Biology , 1 John Carroll Blv., University Heights, OH, 44118, USA
2 - 13765 Cedar Rd, Apt 201, South Euclid, OH, 44118, United States
3 - John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH, 44118, United States

Keywords:
glucosinolates.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P1, Crops and Wild Relatives Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P1CW001
Abstract ID:302
Candidate for Awards:None