Some species of Brassicaceae family content of glucosinolates. The function of glucosinolates as a principles of phytotoxicity is critically discussed. It has been suggested that some variations in activities of Brassicaceae plant materials is attribute to the differences in glucosinolates concentration and their chemical structure, environmental conditions, but also to the presence of the other unknown active principles

It has been found a prevalence of triinsaturated triglycerides (between 81.5% and 85.8%). Erucic acid, characteristic of the Brassicaceae, was found in main triglycerides. Likewise, most abundant triglycerides have 3, 4 or 5 insaturations. The main ones are: C22:1C18:3C22:1,C22:1 C18:2C22:1 and C22:1C18:3C18:3.

Se ha observado un predominio de los trigliceridos triinsaturados (entre el 81.5 por ciento y el 85.8 por ciento). El acido erucico, caracteristico de las Brassicaceae, se encuentra en los trigliceridos mas abundantes. Asi mismo, los trigliceridos mas abundantes cuentan con 3, 4 o 5 insaturaciones. En la mayoria de los taxones estudiados los principales trigliceridos son C22:1C18:3C22:1, C22:1C18:2C22:1 y C22:1C18:3C18:3.

P-protein, a filamentous protein found in the sieve elements of most angiosperms, is believed to function in the sealing of phloem wound sites. We report here on the use of a highly sensitive immunomicroscopy assay to study the ability of P-protein specific monoclonal antibodies RS21, RS22, and RS23, made against the P-protein from Streptanthus tortuosus (Brassicaceae), to recognize the native P-protein in a number of different plant genera. RS21, RS22, and RS23 all recognized the P-protein in other genera within the Brassicaceae including Arabidopsis and in the closely related family, Capparaceae. RS21 and RS22 also were able to bind to the P-protein in plants more distantly related to S. tortuosus. The labeling of P-protein was also observed in the monocots Iris and Narcissus probed with RS21. No label was seen with members of the Poaceae that are reported to lack P-protein. None of the monoclonal antibodies was able to bind to the P-protein in members of the Cucurbitaceae.

Leaf extracts of three Capsella species (Brassicaceae), two diploids and one tetraploid, have been analysed for isozymes of L-glutamate dehydrogenase on polyacrylamide gels. A plastidic GDH (EC 1.4.1.4.) consisted of at least seven bands. Progeny analyses and crossing experiments revealed that within the two diploid species two genetic loci code for this pattern. One of the loci, Gdh1, appeared to be monomorphic. The other locus Gdh2, is polymorphic and segregates for three alleles determining allozymes in accordance with Mendelian inheritance. Estimates of outcrossing rates based on segregation at the Gdh2 locus support the view that one of the diploid species is highly inbred whereas the other is an obligate outbreeder. In the tetraploid species, both loci are apparently duplicated so that four instead of two genes determine the polypeptide structure of plastidic GDH. These loci share the same alleles with the diploid species and no additional allozymes have been detected.

We estimated rates of self-fertilization and inbreeding depression in the hermaphroditic perennial Arabis fecunda. Crosses were made on mesh-bagged wild plants, yielding 12 plants producing self-, outcross-, and naturally fertilized seeds that were then grown in a greenhouse. Analysis of variance indicated aboveground dry weight at 160 days differed among pollination treatments, but mean seed weight, number of seeds per fruit, and days to germination did not. For dry weight, selfed progeny have 9.4% reduction and naturally pollinated progeny a 3.7% reduction compared to outcrossed progeny, suggesting a 39% selfing rate in Arabis. Significant inbreeding depression and a mixed mating system are evidence that the deleterious effects of self-fertilization are maintained through high rates of mildly deleterious mutation. Significant maternal-parent-by-pollination-treatment interactions for mean seed weight and dry weight are consistent with inbreeding depression caused by deleterious recessives and varying past maternal inbreeding.

In response to a septic injury (pricking with a bacteria-soaked needle) larvae and adults of Drosophila produce considerable amounts of a 44-residue peptide containing 8 cysteines engaged in intramolecular disulfide bridges. The peptide is synthesized in the fat body, a functional homologue of the mammalian liver, and secreted into the blood of the insect. It exhibits potent antifungal activity but is inactive against bacteria. This novel inducible peptide, which we propose to name drosomycin, shows a significant homology with a family of 5-kDa cysteine-rich plant antifungal peptides recently isolated from seeds of Brassicaceae. This finding underlines that plants and insects can rely on similar molecules in their innate host defense.