Diets rich in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica) have
been associated with maintenance of cardiovascular health and reduction in risk
of cancer. These health benefits have been attributed to glucoraphanin that
specifically accumulates in broccoli. The development of broccoli with enhanced
concentrations of glucoraphanin may deliver greater health benefits.
Three high-glucoraphanin F1 broccoli hybrids were developed
in independent programmes through genome introgression from the wild species
Brassica villosa. Glucoraphanin and other metabolites were quantified in
experimental field trials. Global SNP analyses quantified the differential
extent of B. villosa introgression.
This study illustrates the translation of research on
glucosinolate genetics from Arabidopsis to broccoli, the use of wild Brassica
species to develop cultivars with potential consumer benefits, and the
development of cultivars with contrasting concentrations of glucoraphanin for
use in blinded human intervention studies.