biologically active phytonutrients such as glucosinolates and their breakdown products (isothiocyanates) which have the potential to be used for bio-fumigation
purposes (Mazumder et al. 2016). The presence of isothiocyanates in B. nigra is
from glucosinolates hydrolysed by thioglucosidase (myrosinase) and a β-Dthioglucosidase which results in an aglycone, leading to breakdown products such
as isothiocyanates, thiocyanates, nitriles, epithionitriles and oxazolidine-2-thione.
Volatile compounds such as allyl cyanide and allyl nitrile and other products with
similar chemical structures originating from the breakdown of glucosinolates are
most suitable for use against soilborne pathogens such as Aspergillus spp.
(Mazumder et al. 2016).
8.9.4 Disease Resistance
Most of the Brassica species including B. nigra are considered to possess naturally
available disease-resistant traits which are essential for crop improvement. B. nigra
is resistant to several common plant diseases such as white rust (Albugo candida),
black leaf spot (Alternaria spp.), blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) and black rot
(Xanthomonas campestris) (Warwick 2011).
8.10 Future Developments and Challenges
During the last two decades, novel developments in plant biology and biotechnology
applications have been incorporated to expedite the agricultural breeding of B. nigra.
These advancements facilitate the adoption of plant models which are economically
important and help in enriching genetic, genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic
resources. Therefore, many sequencing projects on B. nigra have been recently
initiated, to understand its evolution, gene functions and genomic structure. Usage
of novel molecular biotechnological techniques and molecular cloning has led to the
increase of tolerance factors of B. nigra plants, primarily against abiotic factors, as
well as improving nutritional value and developing heterosis for yield enhancement.
Biotechnological tools which have been introduced open new opportunities to the
manipulation of genetic factors which lead to increased potential to produce hybrid
seeds. One such developed technique is the barnase-barstar system, which has been
widely studied for the development of male sterile (barnase) and fertility restorer
(barstar) lines in crop plants including B. nigra (Augustine et al. 2014).
The reverse genetic approach for the improvement of Brassica crops, including
B. nigra, has become possible during the past few decades, and this approach deals
with the phenotypic effects of mutations in a gene. In addition, application of this
technology is still in its initial stages and requires a high level of standardization
(Augustine et al. 2014). Moreover, the use of introgression of genetic/genomic
information from basic diploids and allopolyploid species into one type of plants
8 Mustard (Brassica nigra) Seed
205
purposes (Mazumder et al. 2016). The presence of isothiocyanates in B. nigra is
from glucosinolates hydrolysed by thioglucosidase (myrosinase) and a β-Dthioglucosidase which results in an aglycone, leading to breakdown products such
as isothiocyanates, thiocyanates, nitriles, epithionitriles and oxazolidine-2-thione.
Volatile compounds such as allyl cyanide and allyl nitrile and other products with
similar chemical structures originating from the breakdown of glucosinolates are
most suitable for use against soilborne pathogens such as Aspergillus spp.
(Mazumder et al. 2016).
8.9.4 Disease Resistance
Most of the Brassica species including B. nigra are considered to possess naturally
available disease-resistant traits which are essential for crop improvement. B. nigra
is resistant to several common plant diseases such as white rust (Albugo candida),
black leaf spot (Alternaria spp.), blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) and black rot
(Xanthomonas campestris) (Warwick 2011).
8.10 Future Developments and Challenges
During the last two decades, novel developments in plant biology and biotechnology
applications have been incorporated to expedite the agricultural breeding of B. nigra.
These advancements facilitate the adoption of plant models which are economically
important and help in enriching genetic, genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic
resources. Therefore, many sequencing projects on B. nigra have been recently
initiated, to understand its evolution, gene functions and genomic structure. Usage
of novel molecular biotechnological techniques and molecular cloning has led to the
increase of tolerance factors of B. nigra plants, primarily against abiotic factors, as
well as improving nutritional value and developing heterosis for yield enhancement.
Biotechnological tools which have been introduced open new opportunities to the
manipulation of genetic factors which lead to increased potential to produce hybrid
seeds. One such developed technique is the barnase-barstar system, which has been
widely studied for the development of male sterile (barnase) and fertility restorer
(barstar) lines in crop plants including B. nigra (Augustine et al. 2014).
The reverse genetic approach for the improvement of Brassica crops, including
B. nigra, has become possible during the past few decades, and this approach deals
with the phenotypic effects of mutations in a gene. In addition, application of this
technology is still in its initial stages and requires a high level of standardization
(Augustine et al. 2014). Moreover, the use of introgression of genetic/genomic
information from basic diploids and allopolyploid species into one type of plants
8 Mustard (Brassica nigra) Seed
205