Brassica juncea

Genetic manipulation of the oil-yielding crop plants for better oil quality through biotechnological methods is an important aspect of crop improvement. Due to the inherent absence of the Δ6-desaturase (d6D) function, Brassica juncea, an oil-yielding crop plant, is unable to synthesize γ-linolenic acid (GLA), a nutritionally important fatty acid although the crop plant synthesizes the precursor fatty acids required for GLA production. Cyanobacterial d6D introduces carbon–carbon double bond onto linoleic acid (C18:2) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3) by desaturation processes for production of GLA and octadecatetraenoic acid (OTA) respectively. In the present investigation, d6D coding sequence from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 was cloned by polymerase chain reaction and introduced into B. juncea through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation technique. Both cytosolic as well as seed-specific expression of d6D were attempted. The transformed plants show production of GLA and OTA in contrast to their absence in the untransformed control plants adducing evidence for introgression and functional expression of the cyanobacterial d6D gene in B. juncea.

Hybridization between the nearly extinct speciesDiplotaxis siettiana andBrassica juncea is prevented because of strong prefertilization barriers. Use of mentor pollen ofD. siettiana irradiated with 1000 Gy gamma radiation before the incompatible pollination led to fertilization. 5 d after pollination 17% ovules showed entry of pollen tubes, 10 d after pollination 27% ovules showed small globular embryos which grew no further. No embryos were found in control pollinations. Thus , use of irradiated mentor pollen brings about fertilization in this difficult cross and hybrids can be obtained if embryos are rescued.

Pots holding 7 day-old seedlings of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were subjected to differential temperature stress by exposing plants to 30 or 40 o C for 24 h. Seedlings were sprayed with double distilled water (DDW) or 10-5 M salicylic acid (SA) at the 8-day stage and were sampled at 30 DAS. The plants exposed to temperature stress exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) decline in growth, and in levels of chlorophyll, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities and photosynthetic parameters. A follow-up treatment with SA protected against the stress generated by temperature and significantly improved the above parameters. Antioxidative enzymes and levels of proline significantly increased in response to SA as well as to temperature stress.

Thirty released varieties of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss.] were evaluated during winter (rabi) 2006-07 and 2007-08 under irrigated and rainfed environments. Analysis of variance on 14 quantitative traits was carried out and pooled analysis over the environments was conducted. The mean, range, phenotypic, genotypic and environmental variance, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were calculated. Path coefficient analysis was carried out using correlation coefficients to know the yield-contributing traits having true associations with seed yield. Improvement in seed yield can be achieved by selection using the correlation and path analysis data generated in this study. 1 000-seed weight was positively correlated with siliqua length. 1 000-seed weight and total siliquae/plant also had higher phenotypic and genotypic direct effects on seed yield/ plant, revealing that indirect selection for these traits would be effective in improving seed yield. The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance for 1 000-seed weight would also be of great use for indirect selection for improvement in seed yield. The material used in the study is of diverse nature and can be used in the breeding programme for development of improved genotypes in mustard.

An effective plant regeneration procedure and a gene transfer system via Agrobacterium tumefaciens were developed in Brassica campestris ssp. parachinensis. Hypocotyls from 5-day-old seedlings with 2 days pre-culture were infected with Agrobacterium strain MOG301 harboring a binary vector containing a synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) cry1Ab or cry1Ac gene with full codon-modification. After culture and selection on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/l BAP, 2.0 mg/l NAA, 70 mM AgNO 3 and 50 mg/l kanamycin, a number of kanamycin-resistant plantlets were regenerated. PCR and Southern blotting analysis were used to identify and characterize the transgenic plants with the integrated cry1Ab or cry1Ac gene. Western blotting analysis of the transgenic plants confirmed the expression of insecticidal proteins encoded by cry1Ab or cry1Ac. Subsequent bioassay with larvae of the Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, demonstrated that the transgenic plants were resistant to feeding damage.

Three greenhouse experiments were carried out to determine the growth, yield, nitrate, total N and S concentration in shoots, and water uptake of hydroponically grown Brassica rapa L. subsp. nipposinica var. chinoleifera and Brassica juncea L. In each experiment, daily photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) level was 5.0 mol m À2 (low), 6.8 mol m À2 (medium) or 9.0 mol m À2 (high). Plants were supplied with nutrient solutions having equal N concentrations of 11 mM in different forms: 100% NH 4 , 50% NH 4 + 50% NO 3 , and 100% NO 3 . Nitrogen supplied as 100% NH 4 reduced fresh and dry shoot biomass, leaf area, and leaf number in both Brassica species, especially at low and medium PAR levels. In both Brassica species, S concentrations were highest, while nitrate concentrations were lowest in leaves of plants grown at N supplied as 100% NH 4 . No differences in leaf nitrate concentrations were observed between 50% NH 4 + 50% NO 3 and 100% NO 3 treatments. Low and high PAR levels increased the nitrate concentrations and decreased the N/S ratio in leaves of both crops compared to medium PAR level. Fresh shoot biomass was maximized in Brassica rapa when PAR level was above the medium value and nitrate was supplied in the nutrient solution as NO 3 or as a mixture of 50% NO 3 and 50% NH 4 . The highest fresh shoot biomass of Brassica juncea was observed in all nutrient solution treatments at high PAR level. ß

Alternaria leaf blight disease caused by Alternaria brassicae in mustard (Brassica juncea (L) Czern and Coss) was studied in two crop seasons, 1992 and 1993 in Nepal at Nawalpur, Sarlahi (Tarai) and Khumaltar, Lalitpur (mid hill). At Nawalpur, ...

Especially in the last decade, a vast number of papers on Se and its role in health issues have been published. This review gives a brief, critical overview of the main analytical findings reported in these papers. Of particular interest is the Se content in different food sources worldwide and the extent to which their consumption is reflected in the Se content of human tissues and body fluids. Several food sources, both natural (Brazil nuts, garlic, Brassica juncea) and Se-enriched (yeast-based supplements), are discussed as to origin, characteristics, Se metabolism and impact of their consumption on the human body. The continuous development of new and improvement of existing analytical techniques has provided different powerful tools to unravel the Se species and their function. An up-to-date literature study on Se speciation analysis is given, illustrating how analytical chemistry in its different facets aids in the identification of Se compounds and provides insight into the complete metabolic pathway of Se throughout the human body. This review includes a detailed image of the current state-of-theart of Se speciation analysis in these food sources and in human tissues and body fluids.

The effectiveness of biofumigant defatted seed meals and plants to control wireworm populations (Agriotes brevis Candeze, Agriotes sordidus Illiger, and Agriotes ustulatus Schäller) was evaluated under both semi-natural (pot assays) and field conditions in Veneto (Italy). Laboratory studies to evaluate the efficacy against wireworms of chopped fresh plants from Brassica juncea, sel. ISCI 99 and biofumigant meals derived from defatted seeds of Brassica carinata sel. ISCI 7 were done using wireworms placed in pots filled with sandy loam soil and planted with maize or lettuce. The treatments were made as simulated broadcast applications, approximating different field conditions and agronomic strategies. The defatted seed meals caused a very high larval mortality and prevented wireworms from seriously damaging crop seedlings. A clear rate effect was demonstrated, with sufficient seed meal to supply approximately 160 moles of glucosinolate l −1 of soil resulting in significant wireworm mortality. The insecticidal effect of the chopped whole plants of B. juncea was less consistent. A high level of efficacy against wireworms sufficient to protect susceptible crops from damage was also observed under field conditions following accurate incorporation of the defatted seed meals into wireworm-infested fields.

Phytomining involves the extraction of metals from solid and liquid substrates using specially selected hyperaccumulating plants. Phytomining is commercially motivated, the objective being to produce a viable metal yield, at production costs low enough to compete with traditional mining techniques, e.g. heap leaching. In this work we assess the technical feasibility of nickel and gold phytomining in Australia by identifying possible sites, plant species most suited to these regions and methods of recovering the metals from the plants once sequestered. We then investigate the economic viability using published technical and financial models. In the near term, phytomining appears most viable where there are comparatively high metal concentrations around existing mines and mineral processing plants, e.g. near tailings dams or smelters, and in recovering metals from low grade ores considered unprofitable using conventional techniques. Phytomining has the added advantage of improving the quality of the land following completion of the operation. The indicative profitability for a Ni phytomine in Australia is predicted to be w11,500 AU$/ha/harvest, using the hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii on nickel rich serpentine soils and with energy generation from the harvested biomass. For Au, a profit of w26,000 AU$/ha/harvest is predicted using induced accumulation (with thiocyanate) with a crop of Brassica juncea coupled with energy generation from the harvested biomass. In both cases, profitability is most sensitive to the metal price and the extractable metal content.

Anther culture is a biotechnological technique that can be used for production of pure lines in many species. In order to access the anther culture response in Brassica juncea, four different genotypes (RH 406, RH 555, RH 749 and RH 832) and their F 1 's with Ogura Restorer (OR) as the background were evaluated using two basal media viz., MS and B5 with different concentrations of phytohormones. Anthers were cultured at uninucleate stage and subsequent plant regeneration was studied on MS media with different concentrations and combinations of phytohormone. Maximum callusing (%) response of anthers was observed in F 1, OR x RH 749 (20.37+1.44) and maximum percent embryogenic calli obtained were 20.35+2.68 in same genotype on medium supplemented with B5 as basal medium with 100 mg/l sucrose, 30 mg/l glutathione, 100 mg/l serine, 0.05 mg/l BAP, 0.5 mg/l NAA and 10 mg/l silver nitrate. Rooting and hardening of plantlet was done on MS medium supplemented with different concentration of NAA and IBA. Out of sixteen anther culture media combinations tried, the best media were found to be ACM15 and ACM16 (containing B5 as basal medium with 100 mg/l sucrose, 30 mg/l glutathione, 100 mg/l serine, 0.05 mg/l BAP, 0.5 mg/l NAA and 10 mg/l silver nitrate in ACM15 and 20 mg/l silver nitrate in ACM 16) for all parents and F 1 's.

For the estimation of mid-parent and better-parent heterosis in Brassica juncea L. genotypes an experiment was conducted at NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar during 2004-05 and 2005-06 using 8 x 8 full diallel. All the 56 F 1 hybrids and their parents were planted in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Out of 56 hybrids, negative mid-parent and better-parent heterosis were estimated in 15 and 10 hybrids for days to 50% emergence, in 20 and 11 hybrids for days to 50% flowering, in 34 and 49 crosses for days to physiological maturity and in 37 and 34 crosses for plant height, respectively whereas positive heterosis were estimated in 12 and 10 crosses for number of primary branches plant-1. However, significant negative mid-parent and better-parent heterosis were recorded in 5 and 4 hybrids for days to 50% emergence, in 05 and 03 for days to 50% flowering, in 10 and 8 for days to physiological maturity, in 7 and 36 for plant height while significantly positive heterosis was recorded in 27 and 4 crosses for number of primary branches plant-1 respectively. Better-parent heterosis reduced to 27% for emergence, 3.85% for flowering, 4.08% for maturity and 22.63% for plant height whereas it reached to 44% for branches plant-1. Among parents, NUM103, NUM113, NUM123 and NUM117 proved to be superior when used as parents in most of the hybrid combinations. Hybrids NUM9xNUM113, NUM103xNUM113, NUM123xNUM117, NUM123x NUM113 and NUM123xNUM124 were best for different characters and their further utilization in breeding programs is suggested.

Pots holding 7 day-old seedlings of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were subjected to differential temperature stress by exposing plants to 30 or 40ºC for 24 h. Seedlings were sprayed with double distilled water (DDW) or 10-5M salicylic acid (SA) at the 8-day stage and were sampled at 30 DAS. The plants exposed to temperature stress exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) decline in growth, and in levels of chlorophyll, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities and photosynthetic parameters. A follow-up treatment with SA protected against the stress generated by temperature and significantly improved the above parameters. Antioxidative enzymes and levels of proline significantly increased in response to SA as well as to temperature stress.

Four diverse genotypes of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) and their crosses
with Ogura restorer as the background were evaluated for eleven quantitative traits during winter
(Rabi) 2011–12. The mean, range, phenotypic, genotypic and environmental variance, genotypic
and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were
calculated to differentiate the contribution made by each parameter in the final seed yield. The
maximum value of phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for no. of pods on main
branch (36.23) followed by oil content (31.65), siliqua density on main shoot (30.72) and the
highest genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for number of pods on main branch (33.49)
followed by seed yield per plant (29.18) followed by oil content (28.89). Path coefficient analysis
revealed that no. of pods on main branch (5.94) had the highest direct contribution towards seed
yield per plant followed by 1000-seed weight (4.14) and siliqua density on main shoot (1.82)
which suggested that selection for these traits would be quite effective in improving seed yield in
Indian mustard. During the course of investigations, it was observed that the mean performance of
F1’s (OR x RH 406 and OR x RH 832) was better than parental genotypes for no. of primary and
secondary branches, no. of seeds per siliqua and seed yield per plant.

Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source of medicine. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments. India has about 45 000 plant species and among them, several thousands have been claimed to possess medicinal properties. Research conducted in last few decades on plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for diabetes have shown anti-diabetic property. The present paper reviews 45 such plants and their products (active, natural principles and crude extracts) that have been mentioned/used in the Indian traditional system of medicine and have shown experimental or clinical anti-diabetic activity. Indian plants which are most effective and the most commonly studied in relation to diabetes and their complications are:

Objectives: To determine the potential of Brassica juncea to take up heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) from aquatic environment. Methodology and results: The uptake of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) was studied at various concentrations, i.e. 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 μg ml -1 in Steinberg's solution over a period of 21 days. After 21 days, the plants were harvested, dried and the root and shoot biomass weighed. The uptake of each metal was studied in the root and shoot respectively, to determine the bioaccumulation coefficient of metals in B. juncea. The translocation factor was calculated so as to study the efficiency of the plants to bioaccumulate each metal in roots and shoot. The result showed that the heavy metals accumulated more in roots than in the shoots. When plants were exposed to the higher concentration (50 μg ml -1 ) of Cd or Pb, the metals were present at an average of 18.42 and 12.27 mg g -1 tissue in the root, respectively, and at 3.35 and 2.48 mg g -1 tissue in the shoots, respectively. The average concentration of zinc was 26.52 mg gm -1 and 2.59 mg g -1 in root and shoot respectively, when exposed to 50 μg ml -1 of zinc. Conclusions and application of findings: Brassica juncea has been found to have high potential to remediate Cd, Pb and Zn from aquatic environment with up to a maximum concentration of 50 μg ml -1 . This plant can therefore be grown in aquatic environment that are contaminated with heavy metals, after which the plant biomass can be harvested and burned to ash to recover the metals or to be disposed of appropriately and safely.

Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source of medicine. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments. India has about 45 000 plant species and among them, several thousands have been claimed to possess medicinal properties. Research conducted in last few decades on plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for diabetes have shown anti-diabetic property. The present paper reviews 45 such plants and their products (active, natural principles and crude extracts) that have been mentioned/used in the Indian traditional system of medicine and have shown experimental or clinical anti-diabetic activity. Indian plants which are most effective and the most commonly studied in relation to diabetes and their complications are:

The technique of phytomining involves growing a crop of a metal-hyperaccumulating plant species, harvesting the biomass and burning it to produce a bio-ore. The first phytomining experiments were carried out in California using the Ni-hyperaccumulator Streptanthus polygaloides and it was found that a yield of 100 kg=ha of sulphur-free Ni could be produced. We have used the same technique to test the phytomining potential of the Ni-hyperaccumulators Alyssum bertolonii from Italy and Berkheya coddii from South Africa. The effect of different fertiliser treatments on growth of Alyssum bertolonii was established in situ in Tuscany and showed that the biomass of the plant could be increased by a factor of nearly 3 (4.5 t=ha to 12 t=ha) without significant loss of the Ni concentration (7600 mg=kg) in the plant. Analogous experiments have been carried out on Berkheya coddii where a biomass yield of over 20 t=ha can readily be achieved though the Ni concentration is not as high as in A. bertolonii. The total yield is, however, much greater. We have also been able to induce plants to hyperaccumulate Au by adding ammonium thiocyanate to the substrate. Up to 57 mg=kg Au (dry mass) could be accumulated by Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Unusual hyperaccumulation (>500 mg=kg dry mass) of Tl has been determined in Iberis intermedia and Biscutella laevigata (Brassicaceae) from southern France. The Iberis contained up to 0.4% Tl (4000 mg=kg) in the whole-plant dry matter and the Biscutella over 1.5%. This unusually high accumulation of Tl has significance for animal and human health, phytoremediation of contaminated soils, and phytomining for Tl. We calculate that using Iberis, a net return of $ US 1200=ha (twice the return from a crop of wheat) would be possible with a biomass yield of 10 t=ha containing 0.08% Tl in dry matter. The break-even point (net yield of $ US 500=ha) would require 170 mg=kg (0.017%) Tl in dry matter. A model of a phytomining operation and its economics is presented and its advantages and disadvantages discussed.

Seven vegetable oils viz., sunflower (Heliunthus annus, L.), mustard (Brassica juncea Cross ), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea, L.), sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), soybean [Glycine max L. (Merril)], olive (Olea europea) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis W. J. Jacquin), each were applied at the rates of 5, 7.5, and 10 ml.kg-1 of grain (0.5, 0.75 and 1% v/w concentrations) as grain protectants of pigeonpea against the pulse beetles (Callosobruchus chinensis L.). Effects on progeny emergence, loss in grain weight, and germination up to 66 days after treatment were measured. Adult emergence was completely prevented and the minimum grain loss was achieved by groundnut oil at 1% up to 66 days after treatment. Since treatments with groundnut and palm oils at 5 ml.kg-1 showed high acceptability by consumers, it can be recommended for C. chinensis control in stored pigeonpea for approximately two months.

Arthropods
ISSN 2224-4255

Articles

Development - temperature relationship and temperature dependent parameters of German cockroach, Blattella germanica L.
Arthropods, 2017, 6(3): 78-85
YiTian Xu, SongBin Chen, Yan Yang, WenJun Zhang
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Influence of soil nutrient combination on Flemingia semialata, lac insect growth and lac insect pest
Arthropods, 2017, 6(3): 86-92
Arvind Kumar
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Insecticidal, food utilisation and biochemical effect of essential oils extracted from seeds of Brassica juncea (Czern.) against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Fabricius)
Arthropods, 2017, 6(3): 93-106
Shallina Gupta, Nalini Singh Chauhan, Sakshi Bhushan, Rohit Arora, Saroj Arora, Satwinder Kaur Sohal
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Climate change is the crucial global issue and directly effects on crop production leading towards food security. The relative importance of climate change for food security is very much, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. Pakistan spends approximately US$ 2.50 billion annually on the import of edible oil, which is a huge burden on the economy of the country. Development of canola quality and short duration mustard cultivar is a dire need to combat the upcoming food and health intimidations for this region. The newly developed canola quality

Soils polluted by heavy metals can be reclaimed using a number of expensive tactics that either remove the contaminants or stabilize them within the soil. The value of metal accumulating plants for environmental remediation has recently been appreciated and promising results have been obtained. This paper reports a study on the behavior of Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sativus and Brassica carinata grown on a substrate contaminated by several heavy metals caused by the use of contaminated irrigation water. Data on carbon dioxide assimilation, biomass growth and the bioconcentration and translocation factor of each metal in each species were measured. The polluted substrate caused only a small variation in photosynthesis, however transpiration was more affected by the experimental substrate and in all three species of the genus Brassica the presence of metals in the substrate resulted in higher transpiration levels. Two bioconcentration factors were calculated respectively for the roots (BCF) and the shoots (BCF′); the BCF was >1 for all the species for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn without significant differences among species. All the values of BCF′ were lower than 0.5; among the metals, all Brassica species demonstrated a similar performance for Cd and Zn, whereas for other elements the bioconcentration factor was very low.

The use of higher plants to remediate contaminated land is known as phytoremediation, a term coined 15 years ago. Among green technologies addressed to metal pollution, phytoextraction has received increasing attention starting from the discovery of hyperaccumulator plants, which are able to concentrate high levels of specific metals in the above-ground harvestable biomass. The small shoot and root growth of these plants and the absence of their commercially available seeds have stimulated study on biomass species, including herbaceous field crops. We review here the results of a bibliographical survey from 1995 to 2009 in CAB abstracts on phytoremediation and heavy metals for crop species, citations of which have greatly increased, especially after 2001. Apart from the most frequently cited Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., which is often referred to as an hyperaccumulator of various metals, studies mainly focus on Helianthus annuus L., Zea mays L. and Brassica napus L., the last also having the greatest annual increase in number of citations. Field crops may compensate their low metal concentration by a greater biomass yield, but available data from in situ experiments are currently very few. The use of amendments or chelators is often tested in the field to improve metal recovery, allowing above-normal concentrations to be reached. Values for Zn exceeding 1,000 mg kg -1 are found in Brassica spp., Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Zea mays, and Cu higher than 500 mg kg -1 in Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Lead greater than 1,000 mg kg -1 is measured in Festuca spp. and various Fabaceae. Arsenic has values higher than 200 mg kg -1 in sorghum and soybean, whereas Cd concentrations are generally lower than 50 mg kg -1 . Assisted phytoextraction is currently facilitated by the availability of low-toxic and highly degradable chelators, such as EDDS and nitrilotriacetate. Currently, several experimental attempts are being made to improve plant growth and metal uptake, and results are being achieved from the application of organic acids, auxins, humic acids and mycorrhization. The phytoremediation efficiency of field crops is rarely high, but their greater growth potential compared with hyperaccumulators should be considered positively, in that they can establish a dense green canopy in polluted soil, improving the landscape and reducing the mobility of pollutants through water, wind erosion and water percolation.

Nutrient removal is essential for aquaculture wastewater treatment to protect receiving waters from eutrophication and for potential reuse of the treated water. A pilot-scale wastewater treatment system consisting of a free water surface (FWS) and a subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetlands arranged in series was operated for around 8 months. The study was conducted to examine system start-up phenomena and to evaluate system performance in removing inorganic nitrogen and phosphate from aquaculture wastewater under various hydraulic loading rates (1.8 to 13.5 cm day−1). The wetlands system showed rapid start-up behaviors in which process stabilities were achieved in the following sequence: phosphate removal in the SSF without an adaptation period, nitrogen removal in the SSF after 1 month, nitrogen removal in the FWS after 2 to 3 months, phosphate removal in the FWS after 3 months, and vegetation cover in both wetlands after 7 months of operation. Nitrogen removals were excellent, with efficiencies of 86% to 98% for ammonium nitrogen (NH4–N) and 95% to 98% for total inorganic nitrogen (TIN). Removal efficiencies were affected little by the hydraulic loading trials. Phosphate removal of 32% to 71% occurred, with the efficiencies being inversely related to hydraulic loading. The FWS wetland removed most inorganic nitrogen, whereas the SSF wetland removed phosphate at a rate equal to or even greater than the FWS. Removal of ammonium and nitrite (effluent concentrations <0.3 mg NH4–N l−1 and 0.01 mg NO2–N l−1) were sufficient for recycle in the aquaculture system without danger of harming the fish.

Th is paper reviews progress in phytoextraction of soil elements and illustrates the key role of hyperaccumulator plant species in useful phytoextraction technologies. Much research has focused on elements which are not practically phytoextracted (Pb); on addition of chelating agents which cause unacceptable contaminant leaching and are cost prohibitive; and on plant species which off er no useful phytoextraction capability (e.g., Brassica juncea Czern). Nickel phytoextraction by Alyssum hyperaccumulator species, which have been developed into a commercial phytomining technology, is discussed in more detail. Nickel is ultimately accumulated in vacuoles of leaf epidermal cells which prevents metal toxicity and provides defense against some insect predators and plant diseases. Constitutive up-regulation of trans-membrane element transporters appears to be the key process that allows these plants to achieve hyperaccumulation. Cadmium phytoextraction is needed for rice soils contaminated by mine wastes and smelter emissions with 100-fold more soil Zn than Cd. Although many plant species can accumulate high levels of Cd in the absence of Zn, when Cd/Zn > 100, only Th laspi caerulescens from southern France has demonstrated the ability to phytoextract useful amounts of Cd. Production of element-enriched biomass with value as ore or fertilizer or improved food (Se) or feed supplement may off set costs of phytoextraction crop production. Transgenic phytoextraction plants have been achieved for Hg, but not for other elements. Although several researchers have been attempting to clone all genes required for eff ective hyperaccumulation of several elements, success appears years away; such demonstrations will be needed to prove we have identifi ed all necessary processes in hyperaccumulation.

The use of higher plants to remediate contaminated land is known as phytoremediation, a term coined 15 years ago. Among green technologies addressed to metal pollution, phytoextraction has received increasing attention starting from the discovery of hyperaccumulator plants, which are able to concentrate high levels of specific metals in the above-ground harvestable biomass. The small shoot and root growth of these plants and the absence of their commercially available seeds have stimulated study on biomass species, including herbaceous field crops. We review here the results of a bibliographical survey from 1995 to 2009 in CAB abstracts on phytoremediation and heavy metals for crop species, citations of which have greatly increased, especially after 2001. Apart from the most frequently cited Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., which is often referred to as an hyperaccumulator of various metals, studies mainly focus on Helianthus annuus L., Zea mays L. and Brassica napus L., the last also having the greatest annual increase in number of citations. Field crops may compensate their low metal concentration by a greater biomass yield, but available data from in situ experiments are currently very few. The use of amendments or chelators is often tested in the field to improve metal recovery, allowing above-normal concentrations to be reached. Values for Zn exceeding 1,000 mg kg -1 are found in Brassica spp., Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Zea mays, and Cu higher than 500 mg kg -1 in Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Lead greater than 1,000 mg kg -1 is measured in Festuca spp. and various Fabaceae. Arsenic has values higher than 200 mg kg -1 in sorghum and soybean, whereas Cd concentrations are generally lower than 50 mg kg -1 . Assisted phytoextraction is currently facilitated by the availability of low-toxic and highly degradable chelators, such as EDDS and nitrilotriacetate. Currently, several experimental attempts are being made to improve plant growth and metal uptake, and results are being achieved from the application of organic acids, auxins, humic acids and mycorrhization. The phytoremediation efficiency of field crops is rarely high, but their greater growth potential compared with hyperaccumulators should be considered positively, in that they can establish a dense green canopy in polluted soil, improving the landscape and reducing the mobility of pollutants through water, wind erosion and water percolation.

The large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae (L.),
is an important pest of Indian mustard, Brassica juncea (L.)
Czern., and inflicts heavy damage to all the above ground
plant parts with strong yield reducing impacts. Farmers
have few practical options other than to spray insecticides
to protect their crop. In this study, an attempt was made
during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 crop seasons at Ludhiana,
India, to evaluate Ethiopian mustard, Brassica carinata
A. Braun as a trap crop to manage this pest as an
alternate pest management strategy. B. carinata borders
surrounding B. juncea were compared to chemically protected
B. juncea and control (without B. carinata borders)
plots for their effects on P. brassicae infestation and grain
yield. Oviposition preference of adult butterflies was
studied in a two-choice test in field cages, while the effect
of two host plants on larval performance was studied under
laboratory conditions under no choice conditions. B. juncea
plots bordered with B. carinata harbored significantly
lower larval population compared to control B. juncea plots
during both the seasons. The grain yield in the bordered
plots was also significantly higher than that from control
plots and was statistically non-significant from that
obtained in chemically protected plots. Female butterflies
showed distinct oviposition preference for B. carinata over
B. juncea and the larvae reared on B. carinata completed
development in shorter period and grew bigger and heavier
than those reared on B. juncea. Results indicated that B.
carinata has potential to be used as trap crop to manage
P. brassicae.

Nowadays an increasing application of nanotechnology in different fields has arisen an extensive debate about the effect of the engineered nanoparticles on environment. Phytotoxicity of nanoparticles has come into limelight in the last few years. However, very few studies have been done so far on the beneficial aspects of nanoparticles on plants. In this article, we report the beneficial effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) having diameter of *30 nm on Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds. Measurements of germination rate, T 50 (time taken for 50% germination), shoot and root growth have shown encouraging results using low concentration of oxidized MWCNT (OMWCNT) treated seeds as compared to non-oxidized as well as high concentration OMWCNT treated seeds. For toxicity study we measured the germination index and relative root elongation, while conductivity test and infra-red spectra were also performed to study the overall effect of oxidized and non-oxidized nanotubes on mustard seeds and seedlings.

Plant species capable of hyper-accumulating heavy metals are of considerable interest for phytoremediation, and differ in their ability to accumulate metals from environment. Using two brassica species (Brassica juncea and Brassica napus), nutrient solution experiments were conducted to study variation in tolerance to cadmium (Cd) toxicity based on (1) lipid peroxidation and (2) changes in antioxidative defense system in leaves of both plants (i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX EC 1.11.1.11), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX EC 1.11.1.7), glutathione reductase (GR EC 1.6.4.2), levels of phytochelatins (PCs), non-protein thiols (NP-SH), and glutathione. Plants were grown in nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions, and subjected to increasing concentrations of Cd (0, 10, 25 and 50 lM) for 15 days. Results showed marked differences between both species. Brassica napus under Cd stress exhibited increased level of lipid peroxidation, as was evidenced by the increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves. However, in Brassica juncea treated plants, MDA content remained unchanged. In Brassica napus, with the exception of GPX, activity levels of some antioxidant enzymes involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including SOD, CAT, GR, and APX, decreased drastically at high Cd concentrations. By contrast, in leaves of Brassica juncea treated plants, there was either only slight or no change in the activities of the antioxidative enzymes. Analysis of the profile of anionic isoenzymes of GPX revealed qualitative changes occurring during Cd exposure for both species. Moreover, levels of NP-SH and PCs, monitored as metal detoxifying responses, were much increased in leaves of Brassica juncea by increasing Cd supply, but did not change in Brassica napus. These results indicate that Brassica juncea plants possess the greater potential for Cd accumulation and tolerance than Brassica napus.

Napa cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) is a member of the Cruciferae family, which includes head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) and mustard (Brassica juncea). Napa cabbage is more closely related to mustard than it is to head cabbage. Napa cabbage has been cultivated in North America for more than a century

The Earth's climate is rapidly changing largely due to increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agricultural practices during crop production, food processing, and product marketing all generate GHG, contributing to the global climate change. The general public and farmers are urging the development and adoption of effective measures to reduce GHG emissions from all agricultural activities and sectors. However, quantitative information is not available in regard to what strategies and practices should be adopted to reduce emission from agriculture and how crop productivity would affect the intensity of GHG emission. To provide the potential solution, we estimated the carbon footprint [i.e., the total amount of GHG associated with the production and distribution of a given food product expressed in carbon dioxide equivalence (CO 2 e)] for some of the major field crops grown on the Canadian prairie and assessed the effect of crop sequences on the carbon footprint of durum wheat. Key strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of various field crops grown in semiarid areas were identified. Carbon footprints were estimated using emissions from (1) the decomposition of crop straw and roots; (2) the manufacture of N and P fertilizers and their rates of application; (3) the production of herbicides and fungicides; and (4) miscellaneous farm field operations. Production and application of N fertilizers accounted for 57% to 65% of the total footprint, those from crop residue decomposition 16% to 30%, and the remaining portion of the footprint included CO 2 e from the production of P fertilizer and pesticides, and from miscellaneous field operations. Crops grown in the Brown soil zone had the lowest carbon footprint, averaging 0.46 kg CO 2 e kg −1 of grain, whereas crops grown in the Black soil zone had a larger average carbon footprint of 0.83 kg CO 2 e kg −1 of grain. The average carbon footprint for crops grown in the Dark Brown soil zone was intermediate to the other two at 0.61 kg CO 2 e kg −1 of grain. One kilogram of grain product emitted 0.80 kg CO 2 e for canola (Brassica napus L.), 0.59 for mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), 0.46 for spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and 0.20 to 0.33 kg CO 2 e for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). Durum wheat (T. aestivum L.) preceded by an N-fixing crop (i.e., pulses) emitted total greenhouse gases of 673 kg CO 2 e, 20% lower than when the crop was preceded by a cereal crop. Similarly, durum wheat preceded by an oilseed emitted 744 kg CO 2 e, 11% lower than when preceded by a cereal. The carbon footprint for durum grown after a pulse was 0.25 kg CO 2 e per kg of the grain and 0.28 kg CO 2 e per kg of the grain when grown after an oilseed: a reduction in the carbon footprint of 24% to 32% than when grown after a cereal. The average carbon footprint can be lowered by as much as 24% for crops grown in the Black, 28% in the Dark Brown, and 37% in the Brown soil zones, through improved agronomic practices, increased N use efficiency, use of diversified cropping systems, adoption of crop cultivars with high harvest index, and the use of soil bioresources such as P-solublizers and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in crop production.

Apple replant disease is incited by a pathogen complex composed of multiple fungal, oomycete and nematode species. Rhizoctonia solani AG-5 can be a significant component of this complex and is effectively suppressed via multiple functional mechanisms in response to Brassica juncea seed meal (SM) amendment. These mechanisms include those of both a biological and chemical nature. The effect of seed meal particle size on the operation of these mechanisms and the resulting capacity of B. juncea SM to suppress R. solani and other components of the pathogen complex that incites replant disease of apple was examined in this study. Emission of ally isothiocyanate (AITC) from B. juncea SM-amended soil was initiated earlier and reached higher maximal concentrations in soils amended with fine particle (<1 mm dia) than coarse particle (2-4 mm dia) size SM. This corresponded with the level of disease suppression obtained when R. solani AG-5 and SM at a rate of 0.3% (wt/wt) were introduced concurrently into soils and planted to apple; fine particle size but not coarse particle size B. juncea SM suppressed apple root infection. At the same rate, Pratylenchus penetrans and Pythium spp. were effectively controlled by B. juncea SM applications irrespective of SM particle size. AITC emission from B. juncea SMamended soils was completed within 72 h post amendment, even at an application rate as high as 1.0% (wt/wt). In both fine and coarse particle size B. juncea SM-amended soils, populations of resident Streptomyces spp. were elevated approximately five to ten-fold at 8 weeks post-application relative to the non-treated control soil. When soil was infested with R. solani AG-5 subsequent to this 8 week incubation period and planted to apple, B. juncea SM amendments effectively suppressed Rhizoctonia root rot irrespective of SM particle size. Relative R. solani AG-5 apple root infection as determined by culturebased methods and a qPCR method developed in these studies was consistently similar across experiments. These findings demonstrate that particle size will affect the efficacy of B. juncea SM soil amendment for the control of R. solani AG-5, but will do so only through effects on chemistry-and not biologically-based mechanisms of pathogen suppression.

study the effect of combinations of amount of irrigation water and nutrient applications on crop growth, evapotranspiration (ET), yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of Indian mustard on a heavy clay soil in central India. Three irrigation regimes, viz. 60 mm presowing and no post-sowing irrigation (I 60), 60 mm pre-sowing plus 60 mm post-sowing irrigation at flowering (I 120), and 60 mm pre-sowing plus 60 mm post-sowing irrigation at rosette and at flowering stage (I 180); and three nutrient application treatments, viz. no fertilizer/manure (F 0), 100% NPK, i.e., total N, P and K rates of 60, 13.1 and 16.6 kg ha À1 , respectively (F 100) and 100% NPK plus 10 Mg ha À1 farmyard manure (F 100 M 10) were tested in a split-plot design. The experiment was conducted for three consecutive seasons. The results revealed that treatment combinations of I 180 Â F 100 M 10 , I 120 Â F 100 M 10 and I 180 Â F 100 maintained significantly greater leaf area index (LAI), above-ground dry matter (DM), ET, seed and biomass yield of the crop than other combinations. The duration of a LAI of !2.5 was more in F 100 and F 100 M 10 than in F 0. Under I 120 , LAI remained !2.5 for 8 and 22 days in F 100 and F 100 M 10 , respectively. This leaf area duration increased to 28 and 39 days in the corresponding nutrient treatments under I 180. The root length, mass and volume densities were significantly higher in I 180 than I 120 and I 60 , and in F 100 M 10 than F 100 and F 0. For a particular irrigation regime, ET increased significantly in F 100 and F 100 M 10 compared to F 0. The maximum seed yield of 1736 kg ha À1 was recorded in I 180 Â F 100 M 10 ; and the seed yields under I 120 Â F 100 M 10 (1440 kg ha À1) and I 180 Â F 100 (1431 kg ha À1) did not vary significantly. The WUE seed and WUE biomass decreased with the increase in amount of irrigation water. On the contrary, these WUE parameters increased in F 100 and F 100 M 10 compared to F 0. The regression relationships of root length density on ET, and yield (both seed and biomass yield) on ET could be described by linear. Thus, I 180 Â F 100 M 10 is the best combination; and as the crop response to I 120 Â F 100 M 10 and I 180 Â F 100 was similar, this study concludes that application of organic manure along with 100% NPK fertilizers could reduce the need for one post-sowing irrigation without compromising the yield of this crop under deficit irrigation.

Sorghum allelopathy has been utilized as an economical and natural technique for controlling weeds in some field crops like wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) and Brassica (Brassica juncea L.). It can be used as sorgaab (water extract of mature sorghum plants), sorghum mulch, sorghum soil incorporation or included in crop rotation. Two field experiments were conducted for two years in the summer of 1997 and 1998. In Experiment 1, the response of maize (Zea mays L.) and summer weeds to foliar applications of sorgaab, hand weeding and herbicide spray was studied. In Experiment 2, the comparative efficacy of sorgaab at 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS) and sorghum mulch for controlling weeds were studied. Sorgaab foliar spraying controlled from 18-50% weeds and increased maize grain yield by 11-44%. Mature and chaffed sorghum herbage (10-15 Mg ha Ϫ1 ) surface applied at sowing controlled up to 26-37% weeds and increased maize yield by 36-40%. Three foliar sprays of sorgaab at 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing was the most economical method for controlling weeds in maize as compared with hand weeding, chemical herbicides and sorghum mulch. Weed control through hand weeding and/ or chemical herbicides was found to be economically impractical due to higher costs involved in both cases. Sorgaab can be used as a natural weed inhibitor in maize. Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1

The production of Brassica germplasm with a wider genetic base is essential for using them properly in the genetic improvement of rapeseed/mustard. During the present study, different RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers were used to estimate the genetic distances among thirty different genotypes in all possible combinations. Level of genetic polymorphism at DNA level observed during present study varied, but in general it was in the range of 21.54 to 59.36%. The dissimilarity coefficient matrix of these lines based on the data of four RAPD markers using UPGMA method was also used to construct a dendrogram. The dendrogram analysis indicated that the lines UCD-319/2, UCD-310/2 and P34/R3 were genetically apart from other lines that can be exploited in a synergistic way to create wider genetic base in local Brassica germplasm thus augmenting the Brassica breeding program.

Three years field study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of some insecticides against Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Brassica juncea variety PBR 210 was sown in 4.2 x 3 m plots with 8 treatments replicated thrice. Different treatments included: T : Fipronil 5SC @ 50 g

A method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) has been applied for the analysis of volatile components in fresh potherb mustard and their pickles with different pickling time. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the relative abundances of volatile compounds determined by GC-MS was used for the classification of the volatile components. As a result the glucosinolates enzymatically decomposed compounds account for the major proportion in volatile constituents. From the glucosinolates degradation products enzymatically via aglycone in fresh potherb mustard and their pickles, the result showed that the glucosinolates in potherb mustard contain allyl, butenyl, isobutanyl and phenylethyl groups in the side chain as substituents, which means that the glucosinolates are sinigrin, gluconapin, glucocochlearin and gluconasturtin, respectively. It can be also concluded from the experiments that the glucosinolates with allyl and phenylethyl groups as side chain in potherb mustard are predominant.

We trialled a two-step method of producing allohexaploid Brassica with three genomes (A, B, and C) derived from pair-wise crossing among three allotetraploid Brassica species. In the first step, the three allotetraploid Brassica species () were intercrossed in pairs to produce unbalanced trigenomic hybrids: A . In the second step, these hybrids were crossed with the complementary allotetraploid parent, that is, A (B. juncea). We hypothesised that the unbalanced trigenomic hybrids would produce high levels of unreduced gametes with the same genome composition as the hybrid. These unreduced gametes would unite with reduced gametes from the complementary allotetraploids to form allohexaploid Brassica progeny (A j A n B c B j C c C n ).

To investigate the effect of exogenously applied 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) on drought-stressed plants, photosynthesis and antioxidant systems were examined in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Seedlings of Indian mustard were subjected to drought stress for 7 days at the 8–14 (DS1)/15–21 (DS2) days’ stage of growth and then returned to normal conditions of growth. These seedlings were sprayed with HBL (0.01 μM) at the 30-day stage and were sampled at 60 days to assess the changes in growth, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes. Plants exposed to stress at either of the stages of growth exhibited a significant decrease in growth and photosynthesis. The exposure of plants to stress at an earlier stage (DS1) was more inhibitory than that at a later stage (DS2). However, the follow-up treatment with HBL significantly improved the values of these parameters and also overcame the inhibitory effect of water stress. The activity of antioxidant enzymes [catalase (E.C. 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (E.C. 1.11.1.7) and superoxide dismutase (E.C. 1.15.1.1)] and proline content in leaves exhibited an increase in response to both the treatment factors, where their interaction had an additive effect. It was, therefore, concluded that the elevated antioxidant system, at least in part, was responsible for amelioration of the drought stress.