Effects of seed priming, salinity and methyl jasmonate treatment on bioactive composition of Brassica oleracea var. capitata (white and red varieties) sprouts.
BACKGROUND
Brassica spp. sprouts are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, especially glucosinolates and phenolic acid derivatives, and the composition of these young germinating seeds can be altered by several external factors. In this study two cabbage varieties (Brassica oleracea var. capitata, red and white) were studied using seed priming (KCl 50 mmol L-1; NaCl 150 mmol L-1) and MeJA spraying (25 µmol L-1) to elicit the phytochemical content of edible sprouts.


RESULTS
The red variety was richer in glucosinolates and phenolic compounds than the white one but not in mineral nutrients. Seed priming enhanced the potassium (K) content and flavonols in both varieties, while the total content of glucosinolates was reduced after seed priming only in the red variety. The white variety responded better than the red one to KCl seed priming, increasing the flavonols (89%). Salinity did not induce any change in the phytochemical content of these two varieties. Elicitation with sprayed MeJA was effective in significantly increasing the content of indolic glucosinolates glucobrassicin (5.7-fold) and neoglucobrassicin (9.7-fold) in the red cultivar. In the white variety, in addition to glucobrassicin (19.4-fold) and neoglucobrassicin (9.4-fold), 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin (2.3-fold) was also enhanced. MeJA also elicited significant amounts of anthocyanins (41%) and chlorogenic acid derivatives (329%) in the white variety.


CONCLUSIONS
KCl seed priming and MeJA elicitation promoted the phytochemical composition of the cabbage varieties, especially in the white variety. The application of NaCl resulted in less efficient elicitation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia.
Ismahen
I
Hassini
Food Science and Technology Department, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Nieves
N
Baenas
Food Science and Technology Department, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Diego A
DA
Moreno
Plant Nutrition Department, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Micaela
M
Carvajal
Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia.
Neziha
N
Boughanmi
Plant Nutrition Department, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Maria Del Carmen
MDC
Martinez Ballesta
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001937:Brassica / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044948:Flavonols / Q000032:analysis; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis*; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D054712:Salinity; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
D000085:Acetates; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D044948:Flavonols; D005961:Glucosinolates; D007211:Indoles; D054883:Oxylipins; D064209:Phytochemicals; D011189:Potassium Chloride; C072239:methyl jasmonate; D011188:Potassium
Brassica oleracea; glucosinolates; methyl jasmonate; phenolic compounds; seed priming