Abstract
A comparative study for evaluating Italian and Spanish accessions of Brassica rapa var. rapa L., including turnip greens and turnip tops, was carried out at different locations with a view to determine the effect of earliness on crop production, antioxidant activity, glucosinolates amount, and profile (GLSs) and total phenolics content. The accessions evaluated were represented by two turnip top local varieties (one Italian variety and a Galician one), four new synthetic varieties established by Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), and three commercial varieties widely used by growers in Galicia and in Italy. The results showed a great variability regarding flowering time, fresh and dry weight of the leaves and flower buds, and the branch number per plant. The highest turnip greens production was found in two synthetic varieties (“SIN07” and “SIN01”) for both countries. Local varieties “BRS550” and “CM39” were also suitable for turnip greens production in Spain and Italy, respectively. For turnip tops, the highest production was found for “SIN07” in Spain, for “CM39” in Italy and for “BRS550” in both countries. We found a high diversity in the total and individual glucosinolate, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity among genotypes, geographical origins, and the different parts of the plant (leaf and flower). Varieties “SIN01” and “SIN07” showed the highest values in total GLSs, total aliphatic and gluconapin contents in turnip greens followed by the two commercial varieties. For turnip tops, the highest values in gluconapin, aliphatic, and total GLSs contents were found in “SIN01” and “BRS550”. Even though different varieties stand out over the rest depending on the location, “SIN01”, “SIN07”, “CM39”, and “BRS550” could be recommended for turnip greens production because of its high antioxidant activity. The study showed that the latest varieties are more productive and show higher bioactive compounds than the earlier ones and that it is possible to improve genotypes for different growing cycles. Therefore, these varieties could be proposed for further breeding programs for B. rapa production.
Highlights
Species belonging to the Brassicaceae family support one of the world’s most economically important crop groups
The accessions evaluated were represented by two turnip top local varieties, four new synthetic varieties established by Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), and three commercial varieties widely used by growers in Galicia and in Italy
Even though different varieties stand out over the rest depending on the location, “SIN01”, “SIN07”, “CM39”, and “BRS550” could be recommended for turnip greens production because of its high antioxidant activity
Summary
Species belonging to the Brassicaceae family support one of the world’s most economically important crop groups. Brassica rapa is an important oil and vegetable crop in many parts of the world, with seeds being used for oil, and leaves, flowers, stems, and roots being used as vegetables [1] The cultivation of this species for many centuries has caused a large variation in the plant organs that are consumed, which represent the results of human selection of different morphotypes, depending on local preferences [1,2]. In Europe, they are notably popular in Portugal, Italy and Spain [4,5,6], where they play an important role in traditional farming and in the diet In these countries, B. rapa includes two main crops, turnip greens and turnip tops, as vegetable products. Turnip greens and turnip tops have a good commercial potential in both countries, and the number of industries producing B. rapa canned products has been increasing in the last years
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