Variation of glucosinolates in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) accessions.

Glucosinolate composition was determined in wild radish accessions from eight states in the northeastern and southern United States to determine the variability of production among accessions. Glucosinolates were evaluated from roots, leaves, flowers, primary, and secondary branches. Seventeen glucosinolates were identified, with glucoerucin, glucoraphenin, glucobrassicin, and gluconasturtiin contributing 90% to 100% of the total glucosinolates. Flowers contained the highest glucosinolate concentrations, 12.07 to 55.36 μmol/g, but flowers contributed only 5.3 to 21.3% to the total glucosinolates. Of the eight accessions, the Mississippi accession produced significantly higher levels of total glucosinolates and glucosinolates which can be degraded to isothiocyanates per plant, totals of 618.97 and 563.53 μmol/plant, respectively. Total plant biomass did not differ between accessions indicating a difference in the ability of the Mississippi accession to produce glucosinolates. Further studies are needed to determine if this accession would consistently produce higher glucosinolate levels under different environmental conditions.