Changes in forage and oilseed rape (Brassica napus) root glucosinolates in response to attack by turnip root fly (Delia floralis)

Three genotypes of forage rape and two of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L), grown in a glasshouse, were inoculated with Delia floralis Fall eggs at 5 weeks and their roots were sampled after a further 6 weeks of larval attack. Individual and total glucosinolates were examined in seed and roots using HPLC. No clear relationship was found between seed and root total or individual glucosinolate content. Major differences in glucosinolate composition were found between uninoculated control roots. In two doublezero oilseed rapes, phenylethyl glucosinolate was predominant whereas, in the three forage rapes, 2‐hydroxy‐but‐3‐enyl was the major glucosinolate. Attack by D floralis larvae considerably modified both concentrations and relative proportions of individual glucosinolates in roots. The total glucosinolate content decreased for all of the rapes except double‐zero oilseed rape WRG35. In all rapes the proportion of aromatic to aliphatic glucosinolates increased after attack, largely due to increased levels of indolebased glucosinolates; 1‐methyoxy‐3‐indole methyl glucosinolate increased by over 88%. The total aliphatic glucosinolate content of all rape roots with the exception of WRG35 was reduced by 39–56% after attack. Possible causes for altered glucosinolate metabolism are discussed in relation to observed differences in levels of susceptibility to turnip root fly attack.