Principal differences between perennial wall rocket (diplotaxis tenuifolia (l.) dc.) and annual garden rocket (eruca sativa mill.)in cultivation in production conditions. Overview

Abstract

Till now among scientists and vegetable growers there is a disagreement in the names of the annual garden rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) and the perennial wall rocket (Diplotaxistenuifolia (L.) DC.). The article analyzes the research of foreign and do-mestic scientists on the fundamental differences between the perennial wall rocket and annual garden rocket when cultivated in production conditions. These species are cultivated all over the world as a salad crop and as an ingredient for seasoning. They differ in morphology, chromosome number, as well as in the variety of glucosinolates. Some of the morphological features used to classify the species of these two genera are: the size, shape and characteristics of the spout of the pod; Sheet form and at-tachment to the stem; Shape, venation, color of petals. In the case of an annual garden rocket as a one-year-old, survival in the agrocenosis depends on the formation of viable  seeds and, consequently, more energy is expended on growth and development as compared to the perennial wall rocket. Seeds of the annual garden rocket are planted on open soil during sowing in the open ground due to the partially large size of the seeds and the largest content of albuminous substances in them, and the perennial wall rocket seedlings on the 6th day. Plants of the perennial wall rocket in comparison with annual garden rocket sowing are more resistant to stress factors and are suit-able for mechanized harvesting of greens. The leaves of the perennial wall rocket have a longer shelf-life when compared to the annual garden rocket. Plants of the annual garden rocket due to high growth rate are well suited for growing in sheltered ground during the winter months. It is understandable that these species were unofficially grouped together for convenience. Nevertheless, the assessment of a wide range of factors in production conditions clearly shows that these species should be considered as separate vegetable crops.