GENETIC AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES FOR REDUCING GLUCOSINOLATES FROM RAPESEED-MUSTARD MEAL

The seed meal of oleiferous brassicas is an excellent feed concentrate whose nutritional value is impaired by glucosinolates. Glucosinolates and the products of their hydrolytic cleavage are toxic, goitrogenic and reduce palatability because of their pungency. Efforts to develop low-glucosinolate varieties have not been-very successful since the ge netics of total glucosinolate biosynthesis is complex and highly regul ated; This review summarizes information from genetic and plant breedi ng studies on identification and mapping of the genetic determinants f or glucosinolate biosynthesis in Brassicas. Additional options offered by plant biotechnology using genetic engineering tools such as antise nse technology and metabolic pathway engineering that could bring down the seed glucosinolate revels have also been highlighted.