Antigerminative activity of three glucosinolate-derived products generatedby myrosinase hydrolysis

Some glucosinolate enzyme hydrolysis derived products were produced, chemic ally characterized and studied to investigate their inhibitory activity on seed germination. The glucosinolates epi-progoitrin, glucoerucin and glucor aphenin were isolated from ripe seeds of Crambe abyssinica Hochst. ex R.E. Fr., Eruca saliva Mill. and Raphanus sativus L., respectively. The effect o f hydrolysis products on seed germination of three weeds, viz. Chenopodium album L., Portulaca oleracea L., Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv, and Lac tuca sativa L., cv. 'Romana', as control, was evaluated under controlled co nditions. The results of these assays showed a total inhibition of seed ger mination produced by the hydrolysis products of glucoerucin at a concentrat ion of 10 mg ml(-1) of native glucosinolate. The hydrolysis products of glu coraphenin showed similar activity. The only exception was E. crus-galli, w hich demonstrated germination values significantly higher than those of the other species. The hydrolysis products of epi-progoitrin, mainly 5-vinylox azolidine-2-thione, gave a high percentage of abnormal seedlings even at a concentration of 1 mg ml(-1) of native glucosinolate.