Submitted to: Great Lakes Regional American Chemical Society Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 13, 2004
Publication Date: October 20, 2004
Citation: Vaughn, S.F. 2004. Pesticidal activity of glucosinolates and their degradation products. Great Lakes Regional American Chemical Society Symposium. Technical Abstract: Glucosinolates are a class of water soluble organic anions whose degradation products are produced when plant cells are ruptured and the glucosinolates present in vacuoles are enzymatically hydrolyzed by myrosinase (ß-thioglucosidase glucohydrolase) to principally form substituted isothiocyanates, nitriles, and thiocyanates. These degradation products are primarily responsible for the biological activities associated with glucosinolates. Due to environmental concerns using synthetic chemical herbicides and soil fumigants (such as methyl bromide, a potent ozone-depleting compound), the practical utilization of glucosinolate-containing plants and plant products as green manures and soil amendments is currently an active area of research.