A simple and rapid method of quantitatively measuring the glucosinolate concentration of rapeseed

SUMMARY A method is described in which glucosinolates are simultaneously extracted from crushed seeds and degraded by myrosinase. Glucose released by myrosinase is measured by an autoanalyser using a single reagent. Using conditions optimized for samples of 200 mg, yields were slightly greater than those obtained from corresponding samples of defatted meal. Coefficients of variation of about 4% were obtained over a range of more than 100 μmol of glucosinolate/g seed. It is suggested that the method will be of value to plant breeders selecting from populations having low and intermediate concentrations of glucosinolate and to others wishing to obtain a rapid but precise measurement of these important compounds.