100(2)_str26

ISSN 1392-3196 / e-ISSN 2335-8947
Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, vol. 100, No. 2 (2013), p. 199–204
DOI  10.13080/z-a.2013.100.026

Glucosinolates as arsenal for defending Brassicas against cabbage flea beetle (Phyllotreta spp.) attack

Tanja BOHINC, Iztok Jože KOŠIR, Stanislav TRDAN

Abstract

Feeding of cabbage flea beetles on various Brassica species can reduce crop productivity. While progressing towards the goal of reducing the use of synthetic pesticides and promotion of environmental protection, we wish to exploit plants’ natural resilience. The results of our study carried out in 2009–2010 show that glucosinolate contents vary with plant species and plant organs. Among the indole glucosinolates, all Brassica species (cabbage, oil radish, oil seed rape and white mustard) displayed the presence of glucobrassicin, whose influence on cabbage flea beetles varied according to the plant species. We established that gluconasturtiin content in oil seed rape negatively (r = −0.99) influenced the feeding of flea beetles, while the progoitrin (r = 0.51), sinalbin (r = 0.61) and gluconapin (r = 0.67) stimulated the feeding of flea beetles in this crop. No significant influence of glucobrassicin on flea beetles was detected in oilseed rape, while this glucosinolate negatively influenced the intensity of flea beetles feeding in oil radish and white mustard (r = – 0.32, r = – 0.64). Oil radish thus proved to be the most suitable species as a trap crop for flea beetles. We conclude that protection of the Brassicas against flea beetles can depend on glucosinolate content, but additional tests to confirm practical meaning of this study in environmentally acceptable cabbage production are required.

Key words: cabbage, glucosinolates, oil radish, oil seed rape, Phyllotreta spp., white mustard.

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