Brassins project

J.H. Yopp, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, became interested in the brassins project in its early stages (36) and he conducted cooperative brassins studies with both Mitchell and Mandava. Yopp et al. (37, 38) evaluated brassins responses in a number of auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin bioassays and showed that brassins responded similarly to some of the known hormones in certain systems but not in others. These studies led to more cooperative investigation of brassinolide and other brassinosteroids (39, 40). 

During the decade since publication in 1979 of the structure of brassinolide (I), and the synthesis of the first brassinosteroid (2), also in 1979, events related to the "brassins project have taken some interesting turns. At this point (October 1990), there seems to be little interest in developing brassinosteroids for agricultural... 

As to the USDA scientists who had a major involvement in the joint project, the careers of some individuals were advanced because of having been involved in the project whereas in other cases, scientific careers were simply interrupted without much reward. Several of the key scientists died shortly after the program was complete (J.F. Worley, BARC and M.D. Grove, NRRC and also H. Kenney, ERRC). A number of individuals have retired or left the USDA (J.W. Mitchell, L.E. Gregory, W.J. Meudt, M.J. Thompson and M. Jacobson of BARC retired and N.B. Mandava took a position outside USDA). None of the remaining scientists are in any way now connected with brassinosteroid research. The information obtained with the funds and scientific effort expended by the U. S. Department of Agriculture on the "brassins project is, for the most part, being further expanded by scientists in other countries of the world. 

Prior to his retirement from the USDA in 1974, Mitchell sought increased support to establish field trials to evaluate the effects of brassins for enhancing yields of several crop plants. Because the purification, isolation, and identification of the active component(s) were proving to be so very difficult, Mitchell also sought additional support for a concerted research effort in these area. The ARS administration considered both aspects to be of importance and plans for a multi-disciplined, multilocation project were made. 

Because of the apparent low concentration of the active component(s) in the brassins complex, it was necessary to plan for the extraction of a large quantity of rape pollen. Honeybee-collected rape pollen was available from Canada since pollen is used in specialty-type natural food products, for example baked goods. Arrangements were made (not without some difficulty) to obtain a large lot (over 1/4 ton ) of rape pollen from Canada for a pilot plant-scale extraction at ERRC. Earlier work by Mandava et al. (16) was the basis for the pilot plant extraction procedure that was developed and used (21). Contributors to the project, in addition to M. Kozempel and N. Mandava, were H. Kenney of ERRC J.F. Worley, D. Matthees, J.D. Warthen, Jr., M. Jacobson and G.L. Steffens of BARC and M.D. Grove, NRRC. 

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