Enrichment of glucosinolate and carotenoid contents of mustard sprouts by using green elicitors during germination

White mustard seeds is a rich source of the glucosinolate glucosinalbin, although these levels are reduced during seed germination. This study aimed to enrich glucosinolate contents of white mustard sprouts during 9 days of germination (22 +/- 2oC) using different elicitors. The effect of such elicitors on the carotenoid biosynthesis during germination was also studied. As chemical elicitors, methyljasmonate (MeJA-10-100 mu M) and salicylic acid (SA50-300 mu M) were applied daily as a spray during germination (light/darkness photoperiod (16/8 h) or 24-h darkness). As an abiotic physical elicitor, UV-B radiation (52 kJ m-2) was applied on 8-days-old sprouts (photoperiod or darkness) followed by 24-h acclimatization. The cotyledon area/stem length was not affected by elicitor treatments. The highest glucosinalbin retention was achieved with MeJA-25 or SA-300 after 9 days under the photoperiod, and even enhanced up to 280% with UV-B. The highest carotenoid contents were achieved in MeJA-50 or SA-50 samples after 9 days under photoperiod. UV-B applied to MeJA-50 and SA-50 samples enhanced beta-carotene/lutein contents by 560/280 and 620/350%, respectively, under the photoperiod. Glucosinolate and carotenoid enhancements with elicitors were lower during germination under darkness. Conclusively, germination with MeJA or SA enriched glucosinolate and carotenoid contents of white mustard and even increased after UV-B treatment.

Automated summary

Elicitors like MeJA, SA, and UV-B can enhance glucosinolate and carotenoid contents in white mustard sprouts, with UV-B showing the most significant improvement.