Revitalizing the winter turnip rape crop in the northern latitudes

Abstract

Winter turnip rape (Brassica rapa spp. oleifera) is an underutilized crop that deserves to be revitalized for use in high-latitude agriculture. Many crop rotations around the world are dependent on the small-grain cereals, and turnip rape as a break crop, with its range of secondary chemicals, helps to suppress weeds, nematodes and pathogenic fungi. It may be used as an energy crop, it can restrict erosion and nutrient leaching while also improving soil structure and fertility, and it requires relatively low inputs. Although winter turnip rape was once the major oil crop in Finland, in the 1970s it was replaced by spring turnip rape, the lower erucic acid and glucosinolate contents of which made it suitable for food and feed uses. Winter hardiness of the crop could be improved, and industrial end uses, such as lubricants for which high erucic acid content is preferred, targeted in the first instance. Breeding progress would be accelerated by a change from the predominantly self-incompatible breeding system to self-compatibility, now available in modern germplasm, and this would allow use of other rapid breeding methods, such as doubled haploidy. Thus, the many advantages of the winter turnip rape crop would repay its return to agriculture. In this review we will introduce the many utilization possibilities of the crop as well as give background on why more attention and research efforts should be paid towards this crop. We will also indicate some of the array of factors that have a marked role in an attempt to ecologically intensify crop production.     

In vitro activity of isothiocyanates against Fusarium graminearum

Isothiocyanates are biotoxic degradation products formed as a result of enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates present in Brassica species. The application of biofumigant Brassica crops, as an alternative crop protection method for soilborne pathogens and pests is increasingly gaining interest. However, little is known of the potential of biofumigation to reduce the inoculum of Fusarium species affecting cereals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of five isothiocyanates, namely allyl, benzyl, ethyl, 2-phenylethyl and methyl isothiocyanates, against germination and growth of Fusarium graminearum under in vitro conditions. Aromatic isothiocyanates were more inhibitory than the aliphatic isothiocyanates against mycelial growth, whereas the reverse was observed for conidial germination. Among the tested isothiocyanates, allyl and methyl isothiocyanates were more efficient overall, showing lower ED₅₀ values (35–150 mg/L) for conidial germination and mycelial radial growth. The findings suggest that Brassica plants containing allyl and methyl glucosinolates could have a suppressive effect, reducing the inoculum of F. graminearum in soil prior to cereal production.     

蜡样芽孢杆菌菌株X5强化的生物有机肥能有效控制根结线虫(Meloidogyne sp.)

The efficacy of Bacillus cereus X5 as a potential biological control agent against root-knot nematodes was evaluated in vitro by examining second-stage juvenile mortality and egg hatching rate under addition of culture filtrate and in planta by application of bio-organic fertilizers enhanced with B. cereus X5, B. thuringiensis BTG, or Trichoderma harzianum SQR-T037 alone or together in greenhouse and field experiments. The biofumigation of the root-knot nematode-infested soil with organic materials (chicken manure, pig manure and rice straw) alone or in combination with B. cereus X5 was also conducted in greenhouse experiments. In laboratory, the filtrate of B. cereus X5 more effectively reduced egg hatching rates during the incubation period for 14 d and more effectively killed the second-stage juvenile during the incubation period of 24 h than that of B. thuringiensis BTG. The highest dry shoot weights for greenhouse tomatoes and field muskmelons were found in both the treatment consisting of the bio-organic fertilizer enhanced with the three biocontrol agents and the treatment consisting of the bio-organic fertilizer enhanced only with B. cereus X5. The two bio-organic fertilizers achieved better nematicidal effects than those enhanced only with B. thuringiensis BTG or T. harzianum SQR-T037. B. cereus X5 also enhanced effect of biofumigation, which resulted in increased plant biomass and reduced nematode counts in the roots and rhizosphere soil. Therefore, these results suggested that biological control of root-knot nematodes both in greenhouses and fields could be effectively achieved by using B. cereus X5 and agricultural wastes.     

菜粕生物熏蒸防控辣椒疫病

【目的】研究菜粕生物熏蒸（biofumigation）对辣椒疫霉（Phytophthora capsici）生长的抑制作用以及对保护地辣椒疫病（Phytophthora blight of chilli pepper）的防控效果。【方法】采用室内平板培养和模拟土壤熏蒸的方法,研究2种产地不同的菜粕（RSM1和RSM2）分解产物对辣椒疫霉菌丝和游动孢子的生长抑制效果;通过菜粕对土壤进行生物熏蒸,研究其对辣椒疫病的盆栽和田间防控效果。【结果】RSM1和RSM2挥发性和非挥发性分解产物对辣椒疫霉菌丝和游动孢子都有不同程度抑制作用。其中,RSM2的菜粕抑制效果好于RSM1。2种菜粕挥发性分解产物对孢子抑制强于对菌丝的抑制,而非挥发性分解产物对菌丝的抑制作用强于对孢子的抑制。同一种菜粕挥发性和非挥发性分解产物对辣椒疫霉菌丝的抑制作用差别不大,但对辣椒疫霉孢子的抑制作用有显著差别。室内模拟土壤熏蒸试验表明RSM2用量为0.2%（W/W）时,其挥发性分解产物可以完全杀死辣椒疫霉菌丝。盆栽试验中,采用定量PCR技术测定辣椒疫霉的数量,RSM2用量为0.2%时,虽然没有完全杀灭病原菌,但对辣椒疫病的防治效果可达到100%,取得与化学熏蒸相同的效果;生物熏蒸显著增加了土壤中真菌和放线菌的数量,并增加了土壤中微生物总体数量和多样性。连续两茬田间试验表明,生物熏蒸对辣椒疫病的平均防治效果为82%,并使辣椒增产16.4%,应用效果明显好于化学熏蒸处理。【结论】RSM2菜粕对辣椒疫霉有较强的生长抑制效果,以菜粕为生物熏蒸材料进行土壤处理可以有效防控辣椒疫病并增加辣椒产量。     

芸薹属植物对四种土传病原微生物熏蒸效果的研究

通过培养皿试验,以抑菌率、菌丝干重、产孢量、孢子萌发率等四个指标来评价春夏秋冬小白菜、苏州青油菜、小花叶芥菜、红圆芜菁、香港迟花芥蓝和香港白花芥蓝六种芸薹属植物对黄瓜枯萎病、黄瓜灰霉病、黄瓜立枯病和水稻稻瘟病等四种病原菌生物熏蒸效果。结果表明,所选六种芸薹属植物对四种病原菌都具有抑制效果。不同芸薹属植物对病原菌的抑制效果存在差异,小花叶芥菜抑制效果最好,其次为红圆芜菁、香港迟花芥蓝、香港白花芥蓝和苏州青油菜,春夏秋冬小白菜抑菌效果最弱;同种芸薹属植物对不同土传病害病原菌抑制也存在差异,其中同种试验植物对黄瓜立枯病病菌的抑制效果要好于其他三种病害。     

Suppressive activity of some glucosinolate enzyme degradation products on Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani in sterile soil

Glucosinolate degradation products (GLDPs), mainly isothiocyanates, obtained by myrosinase‐catalysed hydrolysis of glucosinolates (GLs), are an important group of natural bioactive substances. The fungitoxic activity of four GLDPs, chosen on the basis of their side‐chain structures, was assayed against Pythium irregulare and Rhizoctonia solani. The effectiveness of the degradation products (DPs) of sinigrin (alkenyl GL), epi‐progoitrin (hydroxy‐alkenyl GL), glucoiberin and glucoerucin (thiofunctionalised GLs) in inhibiting P irregulare oospore germination and R solani soil colonisation were tested in a closed system, using an artificially infected soil. The fungitoxic activity of these GLDPs varied according to their side‐chain structure. As in previous in vitro studies, the thiofunctionalised GLDPs were found the most effective, producing complete inhibition of P irregulare oospore germination (0.01 µmole g⁻¹ soil) and R solani soil colonisation (0.5 µmole g⁻¹ soil), but even sinigrin DP showed a fungitoxic activity higher than that of epi‐progoitrin DP. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biofumigation: An alternative strategy for the control of plant parasitic nematodes

Plant-parasitic nematodes wreak havoc on the yield and quality of crops worldwide. Damage from these pests is estimated to exceed US$100 billion annually but is likely higher due to misdiagnosis. Nematode damage may be catastrophic, but historically the solution has been damaging as well. Use of the synthetic nematicide methyl bromide(MBr) poses risks to the environment and to human health. Biofumigation, the use of plant material and naturally produced compounds to control pests, is an increasingly feasible method of pest management. The process acts through the growth or incorporation of plant material into the soil, that, over the course of its degradation, releases glucosinolates that break down into nematotoxic isothiocyanates. These secondary plant metabolites exist naturally in commonly grown plants, most of which belong to the Brassicaceae family. Research endeavors have increasingly explored the potential of biofumigation. The reaction of target pests, the selection of biofumigant, and ideal environments for efficacy continue to be evaluated. This review seeks to provide a cost and benefit assessment of the status of biofumigation for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes as an alternative to conventional methyl bromide usage.     

Epidemiological analysis of the effects of biofumigation for biological control of root rot in sugar beet

The effects of biofumigation using a Brassica juncea (mustard) cover crop on the dynamics of rhizoctonia root rot of sugar beet were recorded in two field trials in 2007 and 2008, and analysed using epidemiological modelling. Differences between partial biofumigation, involving the pulling up of mustard plants, and complete biofumigation, involving the crushing and incorporation of mustard residues into the soil, were compared with bare soil treatment. An epidemiological model was used that includes rates of transmission of primary and secondary infection, pre‐emergence damping off, and expression of wilting symptoms (above‐ground disease) due to infected roots (below‐ground disease). The model indicated that biofumigation reduces the transmission of primary infections but affects secondary infections in a variable pattern between field trials. Likewise, the proportion of infected plants expressing wilting was significantly reduced, by 28%, in the partial and complete biofumigation treatments compared with bare soil in the trial of 2007 but not in 2008. It is suggested that the effects of biofumigation on secondary infection and the expression of disease are more variable than those on primary infection, and that this is probably due to an interplay between pathogen, antagonists, host, and environmental factors. These interactions may or may not offset the benefits afforded by a reduction in primary infection and account for the overall variable success of biofumigation to control disease.     

In vitro inhibition of mycelial growth of Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan from different hosts by Brassicaceae species. Effect of the developmental stage of the biofumigant plants

BACKGROUND: The hydrolysis products of glucosinolates in Brassicaceae tissues are potentially useful for the control of fungal pathogens. The in vitro activity of these products against Phytophthora nicotianae Breda de Haan was studied, with the isolates exposed to the volatile products released from the brassica tissues. RESULTS: The four species of Brassicaceae tested inhibited the mycelial growth of P. nicotianae isolates. The most effective developmental stage was different, depending on the species: buds yellowing in Sinapis alba L. and Brassica carinata A. Braun; seeds enlarging and all buds open in Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J. Koch; cauliflower still covered by leaves in Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis. At this stage, B. nigra and S. alba were the most effective (53.6 and 52.5% inhibition respectively). With all the biofumigants species tested, isolates from pepper plants were more susceptible to the brassica effect than those from tomato isolates. CONCLUSION: The developmental stage of plants has an influence on the biofumigant potential of Brassicaceae species against P. nicotianae. The isolates differ in susceptibility to compounds released, depending on their host of origin, suggesting the differentiation of populations of P. nicotianae in relation to the host of origin. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry