Productivity, nutritional and functional qualities of perennial wall-rocket: Effects of pre-harvest factors

Abstract

Perennial wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It has spread worldwide due to its functional properties, and has long been known in folk medicine of native populations in areas of the Mediterranean and western Asia. In the past, Diplotaxis tenuifolia was a herbaceous plant harvested and consumed as a spontaneous herb, but today it is an important leafy vegetable in ready-to-use salads, with an increasing impact in the national and international vegetable retail markets. The leaves of perennial wallrocket have valuable nutritional properties because of the amounts of antioxidant compounds they contain, in particular glucosinolates, vitamin C, as well as flavonoids, which make their consumption beneficial for preventing some types of cancer and cardiovascular disease. In the current review, major pre-harvest factors of Diplotaxis tenuifolia production, such as cropping systems, fertilization, as well as water management and irrigation, are addressed with respect to crop productivity and leaf quality.

Protein Hydrolysate or Plant Extract-based Biostimulants Enhanced Yield and Quality Performances of Greenhouse Perennial Wall Rocket Grown in Different Seasons

“…Harvests of commercially ripe leaves (12 to 15 cm length) were performed, practicing the cut at 3–5 cm above the cotyledons in order to allow for efficient vegetative apex regrowth [58,59], as follows: 24 and 27 January in 2017 and 2018, respectively, for the first crop cycle; on 6 and 8 March in 2017 and 2018, respectively, for the second crop cycle; on 9 and 10 April in 2017 and 2018 respectively, for the third crop cycle.…”

Biotic and Abiotic Sources of Stress on Wild Rocket Classified by Leaf-image Hyperspectral Data Mining With an Artificial Intelligence Model

“…It's traditionally grown in the Mediterranean region, widely consumed in Italy, but with increasing popularity as green salad (mixed or alone) in other parts of the World thanks to its excellent nutritional properties and its antioxidant activity [13][14][15][16][17]. The major producer area of wild rocket in the European Union is the Southwest of Italy, with an annual cultivation area of about 4,800 hectares under protected cultivation with yields ranging between about 30-40 kg m -2 of fresh cut [18,19]. Sustainability of the wild rocket productive processes must be increased in terms of reduction of synthetic fungicides applications for the effective soil-borne disease control, and to improve the water use efficiency.…”

Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC. Yield and Quality as Influenced by Cropping Season, Protein Hydrolysates, and Trichoderma Applications

“…The leaves are mainly used raw and in salads, and this product has found a worldwide diffusion in both the fresh and baby leaf oriented grocery markets. This produce is appreciated by the consumer not only for its pungent "peppery" taste, but also for its high beneficial nutritional and antioxidant components, which are noted functions in the prevention of cardiovascular and carcinogenic diseases [2].…”

“…D. tenuifolia is mostly cultivated in greenhouses and the crop cycles are usually managed from early autumn to spring or from spring to summer, depending on farming systems, growing area, and commercial demand [1,2]. On average, five to six crop cycles are possible, each with a duration of 20 to 100 days after planting or regrowth, according to the time frame.…”

“…On average, five to six crop cycles are possible, each with a duration of 20 to 100 days after planting or regrowth, according to the time frame. The longest period occurs in winter due to the lower temperatures and light intensity, which result in slower plant growth [1,2].…”