The report of cochlearine, the 3-hydroxybenzoate ester of tropine found in Cochlearia officinalis, Brassicaceae, initiated a screening for tropane alkaloids in Cochlearia species and for calystegines in further Brassicaceae. All ten Cochlearia species investigated contained cochlearine, tropine, and pseudotropine. Calystegines, nortropane alkaloids deriving from pseudotropine, were also identified in all Cochlearia species and accumulated up to 0.5% dry mass in leaves. Brassicaceae species of all major lineages of the family were analysed for calystegines. Of the 43 species included in the study, 18 accumulated calystegines of various structures. This is the first screening of Brassicaceae for products of the tropane alkaloid pathway, which is known as characteristic for plants of Solanaceae family. The identification of calystegines in all branches of the Brassicaceae family including Aethionema, a species at the basis of the family, suggests tropane alkaloids as secondary compound typical for Brassicaceae.

The xylem and phloem of Brassicaceae (116 and 82 species respectively) and the xylem of Resedaceae (8 species) from arid, subtropical and temperate regions in Western Europe and North America is described and analysed, compared with taxonomic classifications, and assigned to their ecological range. The xylem of different life forms (herbaceous plants, dwarf shrubs and shrubs) of both families consists of libriform fibres and short, narrow vessels that are 20–50 μm in diameter and have alternate vestured pits and simple perforations. The axial parenchyma is paratracheal and, in most species, the ray cells are exclusively upright or square. Very few Brassicaceae species have helical thickening on the vessel walls, and crystals in fibres. The xylem anatomy of Resedaceae is in general very similar to that of the Brassicaceae. Vestured pits occur only in one species of Resedaceae. Brassicaceae show clear ecological trends: annual rings are usually distinct, except in arid and subtropical lowland zones; semi-ring-porosity decreases from the alpine zone to the hill zone at lower altitude. Plants with numerous narrow vessels are mainly found in the alpine zone. Xylem without rays is mainly present in plants growing in the Alps, both at low and high altitudes. The reaction wood of the Brassicaceae consists primarily of thick-walled fibres, whereas that of the Resedaceae contains gelatinous fibres. The frequency of sclereids in Brassicaceae bark is an indicator of ecological differences: sclereids are rare in plants from the alpine zone and frequent in plants from all other ecotones.

Over the last 15 years, considerable progress has been made in the field of green chemistry, as regards both research aspects and market development. In particular, extraction of erucic acid (C22:1) from plants and its industrial applications have received increasing attention. At present, known species producing oils yielding large quantities of erucic acid belong, with few exceptions, to the Brassicaceae family. Among these, the two major sources of erucic acid in the world are HEAR (High Erucic Acid Rapeseed, Brassica napus var. oleifera) and crambe (Crambe abyssinica), both mainly cultivated in the USA. Their cultivation has also recently been considered and extended to Southern Europe, supported by specific research projects. The quantity of erucic acid in Brassicaceae oils ranges greatly, from 55 in Crambe abyssinica to nearly zero in some varieties of Brassica napus var. oleifera. Even more differentiated and peculiar to each species and variety is adaptability to specific climatic and soil conditions. In this regard, the major limitation to the cultivation of some interesting Brassicaceae species, crambe in particular, is their poor tolerance to cold. Among Brassicaceae producing erucic acid, the less frequently cultivated species, such as B. juncea and B. carinata, if grown in areas with relatively mild winters, may give yields of seed and oil similar to the ones of the most productive rapeseed genotypes. Within this framework, in order to achieve high production of erucic acid, it is essential to identify the most productive genotypes, among available species, for each environment. In this report, seed and oil productions of some important Brassicaceae species for extraction of erucic acid, derived from 15 years of field trials in Northern Italy, are discussed in relation to the possibility of Autumn or Spring sowing | [Negli ultimi 15 anni sono stati fatti progressi notevoli nel settore della chimica verde, riguardo sia alla ricerca, sia allo sviluppo del mercato. In particolare, l'estrazione dell'acido erucico (C22:1) dalle piante e il suo sfruttamento industriale sono stati oggetto di crescente attenzione. Attualmente, le specie conosciute in grado di produrre quantitativi elevati di acido erucico appartengono, con poche eccezioni, alle Brassicaceae. Fra queste, le due fonti principali di acido erucico sono la HEAR (High Erucic Acid Rapeseed, colza a contenuto elevato di acido erucico, Brassica napus var. oleifera) e la crambe (Crambe abyssinica), ambedue coltivate soprattutto in USA. La loro coltivazione è stata di recente presa in considerazione ed estesa nell'Europa Meridionale, con il sostegno di progetti specifici. Il contenuto di acido erucico nelle Brassicaceae varia notevolmente, dal 55 in Crambe abyssinica a circa 0 in alcune cv di Brassica napus var. oleifera. Anche l'adattabilità a specifiche condizioni pedoclimatiche è differenziata e particolare per ogni specie e varietà. A questo proposito, la principale limitazione alla coltivazione di alcune specie interessanti di Brassicaceae, in particolare crambe, è la scarsa tolleranza al freddo. Fra le Brassicaceae produttrici di acido erucico, le specie meno coltivate, come B. juncea e B. carinata, se coltivate in zone a inverni miti, possono dare rese in seme e olio simili a quelle dei genotipi più produttivi di colza. In questo quadro, allo scopo di ottenere alte produzioni di acido erucico, è essenziale identificare i genotipi più produttivi, nell'ambito delle specie disponibili, per ogni ambiente. In questo contributo sono discusse le produzioni di seme e olio di alcune Brassicaceae importanti per l'estrazione dell'acido erucico, ottenute in 15 anni di prove di campo svolte in Italia Settentrionale, con riferimento alla possibilità di semina autunnale o primaverile.]

Recent studies have elucidated the ancient polyploid history of the Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) genome. The studies concur that there was at least one polyploidy event occurring some 14.5 to 86 million years ago (Mya), possibly near the divergence of the Brassicaceae from its sister family, Cleomaceae. Using a comparative genomics approach, we asked whether this polyploidy event was unique to members of the Brassicaceae, shared with the Cleomaceae, or an independent polyploidy event in each lineage. We isolated and sequenced three genomic regions from diploid Cleome spinosa (Cleomaceae) that are each homoeologous to a duplicated region shared between At3 and At5, centered on the paralogs of SEPALLATA (SEP) and CONSTANS (CO). Phylogenetic reconstructions and analysis of synonymous substitution rates support the hypothesis that a genomic triplication in Cleome occurred independently of and more recently than the duplication event in the Brassicaceae. There is a strong correlation in the copy number (single versus duplicate) of individual genes, suggesting functionally consistent influences operating on gene copy number in these two independently evolving lineages. However, the amount of gene loss in Cleome is greater than in ARABIDOPSIS: The genome of C. spinosa is only 1.9 times the size of A. thaliana, enabling comparative genome analysis of separate but related polyploidy events.

Over the last fifteen years, considerable progress has been made in the field of “green chemistry”, as regards both research aspects and market development. In particular, extraction of erucic acid (C22:1) from plants and its industrial applications have received increasing attention. At present, known species producing oils yielding large quantities of erucic acid belong, with few exceptions, to the Brassicaceae family. Among these, the two major sources of erucic acid in the world are HEAR (High Erucic Acid Rapeseed, Brassica napus var. oleifera) and crambe (Crambe abyssinica), both mainly cultivated in the USA. Their cultivation has also recently been considered and extended to southern Europe, supported by specific research projects. The quantity of erucic acid in Brassicaceae oils ranges greatly, from 55% in Crambe abyssinica to nearly zero in some varieties of Brassica napus var. oleifera. Even more differentiated and peculiar to each species and variety is adaptability to specific climatic and soil conditions. In this regard, the major limitation to the cultivation of some interesting Brassicaceae species, crambe in particular, is their poor tolerance to cold. Among Brassicaceae producing erucic acid, the less frequently cultivated species, such as Brassica juncea and B. carinata, if grown in areas with relatively mild winters, may give yields of seed and oil similar to those of the most productive rapeseed genotypes. Within this framework, in order to achieve high production of erucic acid, it is essential to identify the most productive genotypes, among available species, for each environment. In this report, seed and oil productions of some important Brassicaceae species for extraction of erucic acid, derived from 15 years of field trials in northern Italy, are discussed in relation to the possibility of autumn or spring sowing.

The cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, is the most dangerous sugar beet pest. It causes serious stand and yield decrease wherever sugar beets are grown. Adoption of wide crop rotation, cultivation of Brassicaceae nematicide plants and sugar beet tolerant varieties concur to maintain good yields in infested soils. The results of a biennial applied research on Brassicaceae nematicide plants and a triennial one on sugar beet tolerant varieties are reported | Il nematode Heterodera schachtii rappresenta una delle più gravi avversità della barbabietola da zucchero. L'adozione di ampie rotazioni colturali, l'inserimento di colture ad azione nematocida e l'uso di varietà di bietola tolleranti di recente commercializzazione consentono di mantenere buoni livelli produttivi in terreni infestati. Si espongono i risultati di un biennio di sperimentazione su Brassicaceae ad azione nematocida e di un triennio su nuove varietà di bietola tolleranti

The endosperm is a barrier for radicle protrusion of many angiosperm seeds. Rupture of the testa (seed coat) and rupture of the endosperm are two sequential events during the germination of Lepidium sativum L. and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heyhn. Abscisic acid (ABA) specifically inhibits the endosperm rupture of these two closely related Brassicaceae species. Lepidium seeds are large enough to allow the direct measurement of endosperm weakening by the puncture force method. We found that the endosperm weakens prior to endosperm rupture and that ABA delays the onset and decreases the rate of this weakening process in a dose-dependent manner. An early embryo signal is required and sufficient to induce endosperm weakening, which afterwards appears to be an organ-autonomous process. Gibberellins can replace this embryo signal; de novo gibberellin biosynthesis occurs in the endosperm and weakening is regulated by the gibberellin/ABA ratio. Our results suggest that the control of radicle protrusion during the germination of Brassicaceae seeds is mediated, at least in part, by endosperm weakening. We propose that Lepidium is an emerging Brassicaceae model system for endosperm weakening and that the complementary advantages of Lepidium and Arabidopsis can be used in parallel experiments to investigate the molecular mechanisms of endosperm weakening.

The endosperm is a barrier for radicle protrusion of many angiosperm seeds. Rupture of the testa (seed coat) and rupture of the endosperm are two sequential events during the germination of Lepidium sativum L. and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heyhn. Abscisic acid (ABA) specifically inhibits the endosperm rupture of these two closely related Brassicaceae species. Lepidium seeds are large enough to allow the direct measurement of endosperm weakening by the puncture force method. We found that the endosperm weakens prior to endosperm rupture and that ABA delays the onset and decreases the rate of this weakening process in a dose-dependent manner. An early embryo signal is required and sufficient to induce endosperm weakening, which afterwards appears to be an organ-autonomous process. Gibberellins can replace this embryo signal; de novo gibberellin biosynthesis occurs in the endosperm and weakening is regulated by the gibberellin/ABA ratio. Our results suggest that the control of radicle protrusion during the germination of Brassicaceae seeds is mediated, at least in part, by endosperm weakening. We propose that Lepidium is an emerging Brassicaceae model system for endosperm weakening and that the complementary advantages of Lepidium and Arabidopsis can be used in parallel experiments to investigate the molecular mechanisms of endosperm weakening.

We conducted a trials to control Sphaerotheca fuliginea on cucumber plants growing under greenhouse conditions, with plant oils and soaps. We tested a refined grape-seed oil, emulgated with soybean lecithin, oil and it's soap derived from plants which are from Brassicaceae family, and treatment with soy-bean lecithin on one's own. A mineral oil applied in Bulgaria as pesticide under target name RZ Maslo was used as standard, and water treatment - as control. The results shown a high curative action of water emulsion of grape-seed oil.Another tests with the same oil and with oils and soaps derived from plants from Brassicaceae family were conducted to determine theirs phytotoxic behavior according to cucumber plants.

A new species, Urocystis chifengensis on Lepidium apetalum, is described. The specimen was discovered in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. A key to the species of Urocystis on Brassicaceae is given.