Abstract
Perennial wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C.) is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Brassicaceae with a cosmopolitan distribution. Traditionally harvested as a spontaneous herb, today it is a crop species of increasing importance after the diffusion of the ready-to-use salads in the vegetable retail markets. Besides relevance as a food crop, its consumption is prompted by consideration in the traditional medicine of several peoples in the native areas of the Mediterranean and western Asia based on recognized health beneficial effects. In fact, the leaves have notable nutritional properties related to their contents of glucosinolates and some antioxidant compounds, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, which entitle their dietary inclusion for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This paper provides an overview on aspects concerning the biology, crop management, nutritional properties, industrial processing and uses of perennial wall-rocket.
Highlights
Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C. is a species belonging to the Brassicaceae, known as ‘rocket’ or ‘arugula’; in Italy the common name ‘rucola selvatica’ is prevalent, in contrast to the name ‘rucola coltivata’, which refers to the species Eruca sativa Miller
The species Diplotaxis muralis (L.) DC is edible, but mainly collected from the wild since it has not spread in cultivation so far, and its common name is indicative of a close similarity with D. tenuifolia; these two species can be distinguished considering that D. muralis has more oval cotyledons, thinner leaves, smaller petals in pale yellow flowers, and bristly hairs on the lower part of the stem [4,7]
Leaves of perennial wall-rocket are characterized by a bitter or pungent taste deriving from their content of glucosinolates, and a strong acrid aroma depending on the release of volatile isothiocyanates [26,27]
Summary
Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C. is a species belonging to the Brassicaceae, known as ‘rocket’ or ‘arugula’; in Italy the common name ‘rucola selvatica’ (wild rocket) is prevalent, in contrast to the name ‘rucola coltivata’ (cropped rocket), which refers to the species Eruca sativa Miller The economic interest in growing perennial wall-rocket has increased as a consequence of the progressive diffusion of ready-to-use salads, the so-called ‘fourth generation vegetables’, which is a commercialization pattern effective in preserving the freshness and typical scent of the leaves, extending their shelf life and market availability. Thanks to its smoother and more succulent leaves that have encountered consumer preference, perennial wall-rocket has spread in most agricultural areas, covering a surface of about 4000 ha in Italy according to the latest estimation [2].
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