The effects of amino acids on glucosinolates of cabbage

Glucosinolates(GS) composition and contents were analyzed in two cabbage cultivars zhonggan 21(ZG21) and 06-115 by foliar application of 6 kinds of amino acid. Results showed each cabbage cultivar contained 9 glucosinolates in all treatments. Amino acids had an effect on glucosinolates contents in cabbage cultivar. For cultivar 06-115, the total glucosinolate, aliphatic glucosinolate and Glucoraphanin contents were increased significantly by Cysteine and Methionine treatment. Compared with CK, Cysteine raised total glucosinolate, aliphatic glucosinolate and Glucoraphanin content by 63.0%, 69.6% and 69.1%, respectively. Glucobrassicin content increased to 725.6 μmol/kg, FW in the foliar application treatments of Cysteine. For cultivar ZG21, the total glucosinolate, aliphatic glucosinolate, indolyl glucosinolate and Glucoraphanin increased by 27.2%, 39.6%, 15.3% and 26.2%, respectively in the foliar Cysteine treatments comparing with control. Glucobrassicin content was the highest (292.7 μmol/kg, FW) in the foliar Cysteine treatments, followed by Glutamine and Glycine treatment.