Variation of glucosinolates in vegetable crops of Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis

Glucosinolates of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) from Korea were characterised to determine the total glucosinolate content and the diversity amongst glucosinolates; 24 varieties were analysed. The profiles of 14 glucosinolates identified from the leaves were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate the differences among varieties. The Kori, Sandun and e-Norang varieties separated from the others based on glucosinolate concentration. Genetically modified Chinese cabbage containing the bar gene could not be separated from non-genetically modified varieties. Glucobrassicanapin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, gluconapin and glucobrassicin in Chinese cabbage were confirmed as the main glucosinolate compounds. The Kori, Sandun and e-Norang varieties appear to be good candidates for future breeding programmes since they have a high glucosinolate content. The presence of indolic glucosinolates in all varieties should be studied more extensively because they are the precursor of indole-3-carbinol, a potent cancer chemopreventive agent.