Changes in the glucosinolate content of oilseed rape plants following infection with turnip mosaic virus

Low and high glucosinolate cultivars of oilseed rape were analysed for variation in both individual and total glucosinolate content up to 27 days after inoculation with turnip mosaic virus. Both infected and control plants of the two cultivars differed in the concentration of aliphatic, aromatic and indole glucosinolates. The biggest differences in glucosinolate content between the cultivars were found in the aliphatic and aromatic glucosinolate groups. Infected plants of the high glucosinolate cultivar, Solida, possessed lower amounts of glucosinolates, than did healthy control plants. Similar results were obtained with a low glucosinolate cultivar, S1. No significant difference was found between the two cultivars in resistance to turnip mosaic virus, using qualitative and quantitative ELISA to determine virus content in their tissues.