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Background Sulforaphane is a natural isothiocyanate available from cruciferous vegetables with multiple characteristics including antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effect. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing has been used for long-read de novo assembly of plant genome. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism related to glucosinolates biosynthesis in Chinese kale using combined NGS and SMRT sequencing. Results SMRT sequencing produced 185,134 unigenes, higher than 129,325 in next-generation sequencing (NGS). NaCl (75 mM), methyl jasmonate (MeJA, 40 μM), selenate (Se, sodium selenite 100 μM), and brassinolide (BR, 1.5 μM) treatment induced 6893, 13,287, 13,659 and 11,041 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Chinese kale seedlings comparing with control. These genes were associated with pathways of glucosinolates biosynthesis, including phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and glucosinolate biosynthesis. We found NaCl decreased sulforaphane and glucosinolates (indolic and aliphatic) contents and downregulated expression of cytochrome P45083b1 (CYP83b1), S-alkyl-thiohydroximatelyase or carbon–sulfur lyase (SUR1) and UDP-glycosyltransferase 74B1 (UGT74b1). MeJA increased sulforaphane and glucosinolates contents and upregulated the expression of CYP83b1, SUR1 and UGT74b1; Se increased sulforaphane; BR increased expression of CYP83b1, SUR1 and UGT74b1, and increased glucosinolates contents. The desulfoglucosinolate sulfotransferases ST5a_b_c were decreased by all treatments. Conclusions We confirmed that NaCl inhibited the biosynthesis of both indolic and aliphatic glucosinolates, while MeJA and BR increased them. MeJA and BR treatments, conferred the biosynthesis of glucosinolates, and Se and MeJA contributed to sulforaphane in Chinese kale via regulating the expression of CYP83b1, SUR1 and UGT74b1. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5758-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Broccoli is becoming increasingly popular among consumers owing to its nutritional value and rich bioactive compounds, such glucosinolates (GSLs) and hydrolysis products, which are secondary metabolites for plant defense, cancer prevention, and higher antioxidant activity for humans. In this study, 40 μmol/L methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was sprayed onto broccoli from budding until harvest. The harvested broccoli florets, stem, and leaves were used to measure the contents of GSLs, sulforaphane, total phenolics, and flavonoids, as well as myrosinase activity, antioxidant activity, and gene expression involved in GSL biosynthesis. The overall results revealed that GSL biosynthesis and sulforaphane accumulation were most likely induced by exogenous MeJA treatment by upregulating the expression of CYP83A1, SUR1, UGT74B1, and SOT18 genes. Exogenous MeJA treatment more remarkably contributed to the increased GSL biosynthesis in broccoli cultivars with low-level GSL content (Yanxiu) than that with high-level GSLs (Xianglv No.3). Moreover, MeJA treatment had a more remarkable increasing effect in broccoli florets than stem and leaves. Interestingly, total flavonoid content substantially increased in broccoli florets after MeJA treatment, but total phenolics did not. Similarly, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were higher in broccoli floret after MeJA treatment. In conclusion, MeJA mediated bioactive compound metabolism, had positive effects on GSL biosynthesis, sulforaphane, and flavonoids accumulation, and showed positive correlation on inducing higher antioxidant activities in broccoli floret. Hence, preharvest supplementation with 40 μM MeJA could be a good way to improve the nutritional value of broccoli florets.