Genetics of aliphatic glucosinolates. III. Side chain structure of aliphatic glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana

The inheritance of aliphatic glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana was studied. Analysis of F 3 families from a cross between the ecotype Limburg-5 and the accession H51 (an inbred line derived from the ecotype Stockholm) suggested that alleles at a single locus regulate the conversion of methylsulphinylalkyl glucosinolates into alkenyl (and hydroxyalkenyl) glucosinolates. Likewise, analysis of recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the ecotypes Columbia and Landsberg erecta suggested that alleles at a single locus regulate the conversion of methylsulphinylpropyl glucosinolate into hydroxypropyl glucosinolate. Both loci mapped to a similar position on chromosome 4 and it is suggested that these alleles occur at the same locus. A genetic model is proposed in which the aliphatic glucosinolates of A. thaliana are determined by alleles at three loci. The ecological significance of variation in aliphatic glucosinolates is discussed.