Gluconasturtiin

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/gluconasturtiin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Phenethyl glucosinolate
2. What is the plant family?Brassicaceae (Cruciferous vegetables)
3. Where in the plant does gluconasturtiin live?Most of the gluconasturtiin is stored in the roots of the plant. It is also present in other parts, but the roots hold the most.
4. How does gluconasturtiin help the plant fight bugs?When a plant is hurt, an enzyme called myrosinase breaks down gluconasturtiin into a substance that is toxic to insects and microbes. This keeps the plant safe from pests.

Glucosinolate: A class of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds found in plants, acting as defense chemicals.
Myrosinase: A plant enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucosinolates upon tissue damage.
Isothiocyanate: A class of organic compounds derived from isothiocyanic acid, often pungent and toxic to pests.
Crop Rotation: The practice of growing different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons to improve soil health and manage pests.