Brassica () is a genus of plants in the cabbage and Mustard plant family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables, , Mustard plant, or simply brassicas. Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole cropsderived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stem or stalk of a plant.[
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The genus Brassica is known for its important agricultural and horticultural crops and also includes a number of weeds, both of wild taxon and escapees from cultivation. Brassica species and varieties commonly used for food include bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, choy sum, kohlrabi, napa cabbage, rutabaga, turnip and some seeds used in the production of canola oil and the condiment mustard. Over 30 wild species and hybrids are in cultivation, plus numerous and hybrids of cultivated origin. Most are seasonal plants (Annual plant or Biennial plant), but some are small shrubs. Brassica plants have been the subject of much scientific interest for their agricultural importance. Six particular species ( B. carinata, Brassica juncea, B. oleracea, Brassica napus, Brassica nigra, and Brassica rapa) evolved by the combining of from three earlier species, as described by the triangle of U theory.
The genus is native to Western Europe, the Mediterranean and temperate regions of Asia. Many wild species grow as weeds, especially in North America, South America, and Australia.
A dislike for cabbage or broccoli may result from the fact that these plants contain a compound similar to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), which is either bitter or tasteless to people depending on their taste buds.[
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Uses
Food
The flowers, seeds, stalks, and tender leaves of many species of
Brassica can be eaten raw or cooked.
Almost all parts of some species have been developed for food, including the root (
rutabaga, turnip), stems (
kohlrabi), leaves (
cabbage,
collard greens,
kale), flowers (
cauliflower,
broccoli, romanesco broccoli), buds (
,
cabbage), and seeds (many, including
mustard seed, and oil-producing
rapeseed). Some forms with white or purple foliage or flowerheads are also sometimes grown for ornament.
Brassica species are sometimes used as food plants by the of a number of Lepidoptera species.
Cooking
Boiling substantially reduces the levels of broccoli
glucosinolates, while other cooking methods, such as
steaming,
Microwave oven, and
stir frying, have no significant effect on glucosinolate levels.
Species
The following species are accepted:
[
]
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Brassica assyriaca
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Brassica aucheri
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Brassica baldensis
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Brassica balearica – Mallorca cabbage
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Brassica barrelieri
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Brassica beytepeensis
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Brassica bourgeaui
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Brassica cadmea
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Brassica carinata – Abyssinian mustard or Abyssinian cabbage, used to produce biodiesel
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Brassica cretica
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Brassica deflexa
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Brassica deserti
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Brassica desnottesii
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Brassica dimorpha
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Brassica elongata – elongated mustard
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Brassica fruticulosa – Mediterranean cabbage
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Brassica gravinae
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Brassica hilarionis – St. Hilarion cabbage
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Brassica incana
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Brassica insularis
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Brassica juncea – Indian mustard, brown and leaf mustards, Sarepta mustard
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Brassica loncholoma
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Brassica macrocarpa
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Brassica maurorum
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Brassica montana
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Brassica napus – rapeseed, rutabaga, Siberian kale
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Brassica nivalis
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Brassica oleracea – kale, cabbage, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, kai-lan, , kohlrabi
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Brassica oxyrrhina
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Brassica procumbens
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Brassica rapa – Chinese cabbage, turnip, rapini
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Brassica repanda
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Brassica rupestris
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Brassica setulosa
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Brassica somalensis
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Brassica souliei
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Brassica spinescens
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Brassica taiwanensis
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Brassica taurica
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Brassica trichocarpa
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Brassica tyrrhena
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Brassica villosa
Species formerly placed in Brassica
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B. alba or B. hirta (white or yellow mustard)—see White mustard
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B. geniculata (hoary mustard)—see Hirschfeldia incana
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B. kaber (wild mustard or charlock)—see Rhamphospermum arvense
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B. nigra —see Rhamphospermum nigrum
Genome sequencing and genetics
Bayer CropScience (in collaboration with BGI-Shenzhen, China; KeyGene; the Netherlands and the University of Queensland, Australia) announced it had sequenced the entire genome of rapeseed (canola, Brassica napus) and its constituent genomes present in B. rapa and B. oleracea in 2009.[ The B. rapa genome was sequenced by the Multinational Brassica Genome Project in 2011.][ This also represents the A genome component of the amphidiploid crop species B. napus and B. juncea.
]
Etymology
'Brassica' was Pliny the Elder's name for several cabbage-like plants.[Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 76]
External links