Solutions of glucobrassicin (3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate) purified from foliage and sinigrin (allyl glucosinolate) elicited oviposition by the cabbage butterfly,Pieris rapae, at threshold concentrations as low as 10(-6) M. At higher concentrations, glucobrassicin elicited a faster oviposition rate
Glucosinolates present in Brassicaceae play a major role in herbivory defense. Upon tissue disruption, glucosinolates come into contact with myrosinase, which initiates their breakdown to biologically active compounds. Among these, the formation of epithionitriles is triggered by the presence