8.9 Other Applications of B. nigra
Various parts of the B. nigra plant, including its seed and oil, have been used for a
wide variety of environmental applications, mostly for remedial purposes, some of
which are described in Sects. 8.9.1–8.9.3. These applications demonstrate the
versatility of the plant and its products for more than simply medicinal and condimental purposes.
8.9.1 Phytoremediation
In general, the Brassicaceae family—including B. nigra have the ability to accumulate heavy metals Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni in its roots (Angelova and
Ivanov 2009; Mourato et al. 2015). Apart from the roots, other vegetative and
reproductive organs of the plant are also able to accumulate these heavy metals at
a significant level. Due to this characteristic, B. nigra is able to grow on contaminated soil and, therefore, would be a noteworthy candidate in its application for
phytoremediation. The presence of cysteine (3–5 mg/g), a key component of
phytochelatins, has the ability to detoxify metals and, thus, identified as the primary
reason behind this beneficial characteristic of the plant (Angelova and Ivanov 2009;
Purakayastha et al. 2008; Bharagava et al. 2008).
8.9.2 Weed Control and Interaction with Herbivores
The allelopathic activity of the B. nigra plant and its seed oil owes to the presence
glucosinolates (Bialy et al. 1990; Harvey et al. 2003; Siemens et al. 2002; Tawaha
and Turk 2003). B. nigra seeds also contain allyl isothiocyanate, which is a
glucosinolate breakdown product known to be inhibitory to wheat, barnyard grass
and lettuce but also able to depress seedling growth and to a smaller effect, wheat
germination (Bialy et al. 1990; Siemens et al. 2002). Therefore, B. nigra seed oil
could be used as a weed-controlling agent in agriculture due to its allelopathic
properties. The young leaves of B. nigra are primarily known to possess
allelochemicals in abundance (Merritt 1996; Tawaha and Turk 2003; Van Dam
et al. 2005).
8.9.3 Bio-fumigation
As a bio-fumigation agent, B. nigra can be used to control pests including soilborne
species in the agriculture and horticulture sector. The B. nigra plant contains many
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Various parts of the B. nigra plant, including its seed and oil, have been used for a
wide variety of environmental applications, mostly for remedial purposes, some of
which are described in Sects. 8.9.1–8.9.3. These applications demonstrate the
versatility of the plant and its products for more than simply medicinal and condimental purposes.
8.9.1 Phytoremediation
In general, the Brassicaceae family—including B. nigra have the ability to accumulate heavy metals Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni in its roots (Angelova and
Ivanov 2009; Mourato et al. 2015). Apart from the roots, other vegetative and
reproductive organs of the plant are also able to accumulate these heavy metals at
a significant level. Due to this characteristic, B. nigra is able to grow on contaminated soil and, therefore, would be a noteworthy candidate in its application for
phytoremediation. The presence of cysteine (3–5 mg/g), a key component of
phytochelatins, has the ability to detoxify metals and, thus, identified as the primary
reason behind this beneficial characteristic of the plant (Angelova and Ivanov 2009;
Purakayastha et al. 2008; Bharagava et al. 2008).
8.9.2 Weed Control and Interaction with Herbivores
The allelopathic activity of the B. nigra plant and its seed oil owes to the presence
glucosinolates (Bialy et al. 1990; Harvey et al. 2003; Siemens et al. 2002; Tawaha
and Turk 2003). B. nigra seeds also contain allyl isothiocyanate, which is a
glucosinolate breakdown product known to be inhibitory to wheat, barnyard grass
and lettuce but also able to depress seedling growth and to a smaller effect, wheat
germination (Bialy et al. 1990; Siemens et al. 2002). Therefore, B. nigra seed oil
could be used as a weed-controlling agent in agriculture due to its allelopathic
properties. The young leaves of B. nigra are primarily known to possess
allelochemicals in abundance (Merritt 1996; Tawaha and Turk 2003; Van Dam
et al. 2005).
8.9.3 Bio-fumigation
As a bio-fumigation agent, B. nigra can be used to control pests including soilborne
species in the agriculture and horticulture sector. The B. nigra plant contains many
204
H. K. S. De Zoysa and V. Y. Waisundara