# Horticulture/Brassica

Brassica :
| Genus: | Brassica |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Type: | Annual, Biennial, Subshrub |
| Soil requirements: | Neutral to alkaline |
| Pest issues: | Numerous |
| Disease issues: | Numerous |
| Sowing methods: | In flats or in situ |
| Pollination: | Insects |
Brassica is the type genus of the mustard family, Brassicaceae. The members of the genus may be collectively known either as cabbages, or as mustards.
This genus is remarkable for containing more important agricultural and horticultural crops than any other genus. It also includes a number of weeds, including both wild taxa and escapees from cultivation. It includes over 30 wild species and hybrids, and numerous additional cultivars and hybrids of cultivated origin. Most are annuals or biennials, but some are small shrubs.
The genus is native in the wild in western Europe, the Mediterranean and temperate regions of Asia. In addition to the cultivated species, which are grown worldwide, many of the wild species grow as invasive or naturalised weeds, especially in North America, South America, and Australia.
Almost all parts of some species or other have been developed for food, including the root (Rutabaga, Turnip), stems (kohlrabi), leaves (Cabbage, brussels sprouts), flowers (cauliflower, broccoli), and seeds (many, including mustard seed, oilseed rape). 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 larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species - see w:List of Lepidoptera which feed on Brassicas.

## Species

There is some disagreement among botanists on the classification and status of Brassica species and subspecies. The following is an abbreviated list, with an emphasis on economically important species.
* Brassica carinata - Abyssinian Mustard or Abyssinian Cabbage
* Brassica elongata - Elongated Mustard
* Brassica fruticulosa - Mediterranean Cabbage
* Brassica juncea - Indian Mustard, Brown and leaf mustards, Sarepta Mustard.
* Brassica napus - Oilseed rape, Canola, Rutabaga (Swede Turnip)
* Brassica narinosa - Broadbeaked Mustard
* Brassica nigra - Black Mustard
* Brassica oleracea - Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kai-lan, Brussels sprouts
* Brassica perviridis - Tender Green, Mustard Spinach
* Brassica rapa - Chinese cabbage, Turnip, Rapini, Mustard
* Brassica rupestris - Brown Mustard
* Brassica septiceps - Seventop Turnip
* Brassica tournefortii - Asian Mustard

### Deprecated species names

* B. kaber (Wild Mustard or Charlock) - see Sinapis arvensis
* B. alba or B. hirta (White or Yellow mustard) - see Sinapis alba

## Pests and diseases

Bacteria:
* Bacterial Leaf Spot caused by Xanthomonas spp.
Fungi:
* Powdery Mildew
* Fungal Leaf Spot caused by Alternaria sp.
* Downy Mildew
* White Mold
* Black Leg
* Soft Rot
* Bottom Rot
* White Mold caused by Sclerotinia sp.
* White Rust
* Clubroot caused by Plasmidiophora brassicae
* Damping Off
* Texas Root Rot
Phytoplasma:
* Yellows caused by a phytoplasma
Nematodes:
* Root Knot Nematodes
Nutrient Deficiencies:
* Potassium Deficiency
* Calcium Deficiency
* Boron Deficiency
* Magnesium Deficiency
* Molybdenum Deficiency
Aphids
* Green Peach Aphid: Myzus persicae
* Cabbage Aphid: Brevicoryne brassicae
* Turnip Aphid: Lipaphis pseudobrassicae
Whiteflies
* Greenhouse Whitefly: Trialeurodes vaporariorum
* Silverleaf Whitefly: Bemisia argentifolii
Bugs
* False Cinch Bug: Nysius raphanus Western North America
* Harlequin Bug: Murgantia histrionica Southern US
* Stink Bugs
Thrips
* Onion Thrips: Thrips tabaci
Maggots
* American Serpentine Leaf Miner: Liriomyza trifolii
* Cabbage Leaf Miner: Liriomyza brassicae (Warm climates)
* Cabbage Maggot: Delia radicum Northern US and Canada
* European Crane Fly: Tipula paludosa Europe, Northwest US and Western Canada
* Pea Leafminer: Liriomyza huidobrensis
* Radish Root Maggott: Delia planipalpis Western North America
Beetles
* Cabbage Flea Beetle Phyllotreta albionica
* Colorado Potato Beetle: Leptinotarsa decemlineata
* Crucifer Flea Beetle: Phyllotreta cruciferae
* Hop Flea Beetle: Psyllioides punctata
* Palestriped Flea Beetle: Systena blanda
* Red Turnip Beetle: Entomoscelis americana Northwest Us and Western Canada
* Striped Flea Beetle: Phyllotrete striolata
* Western Black Flea Beetle: Phyllotreta pusilla
* Western Striped Flea Beetle: Phyllotreta ramosa
* Whitefringed Beetles: Naupactus spp.
* Yellowmargined Beetle: Microtheca ochroloma
Weevils
* Vegetable Weevil: Listroderes difficilis
Caterpillars
* Cabbage Looper: Trichoplusia ni
* Alfalfa Looper: Autographa californica Western US
* Beet Armyworm: Spodoptera exigua
* Cabbage Butterfly Caterpillar (Cabbage White, Imported Cabbageworm): Pieris rapae
* Cabbage Webworm: Hellula rogatalis
* Cross-striped Cabbageworm: Evergestis rimosalis
* Diamondback Moth Caterpillar: Plutella xylostella
* Purplebacked Cabbageworm: Evergestis pallidata
* Southern Cabbageworm (Checkered white butterfly): Pontia protodice
* Zebra Caterpillar: Ceramica picta
* Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
* Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
* Common Swift (Korshceltellus lupulina)
* Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) - recorded on Brassica in Malta
* Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)
* Garden Dart (Euxoa nigricans)
* Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli)
* Giant Leopard Moth (Ecpantheria scribonia)
* The Gothic (Naenia typica)
* Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis)
* Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
* Hypercompe abdominalis
* Hypercompe indecisa
* Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)
* The Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii)
* Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)
* Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)
Slugs and Snails

## References

* Britton, Nathaniel Lord (1913). An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Volume 2 (second edition ed.). Dover Publications, inc. pp. 192–194. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
* Ann Fowler Rhoads and Timothy A. Block (2000). The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. Anna Anisko, illustrator. Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 279–280.
* P. D. Strausbaugh and Earl L. Core (1977). Flora of West Virginia (Second ed.). Seneca Books, Grantsville, W. Virginia. pp. 426–428.
* Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk (1997). The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. DK Publishing. pp. 178–179.
* Staff of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press. pp. 178–179.
* Cranshaw, Whitney (2004). Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs. Princeton University Press. pp. 583–584.
* Pippa Greenwood, Andrew Halstead, A.R. Chase, Daniel Gilrein (2000). American Horticultural Society Pests & Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Plant Problems (First Edition ed.). Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing, inc. pp. 202–203. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
* Caterpillar Hostplants Database