Specific way of controlling yield and quality of crops of rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) and tailoring some of its functional properties

Abstract

Plantations of rocket were watered with water treated for 30 min with low temperature, low-pressure glow plasma of low frequency (LPGP) either in the air (LPGPA), under nitrogen (LPGPN) or carbon dioxide (LPGPC). Watering with LPGPN offered the lushest plants. The kind of the plasma treated water had a minor effect on rooting of the plants. Always watering rocket provided higher yield of crops and watering with LPGPN was the most beneficial in this respect. The watering with the LPGP treated water, regardless its kind, decreased the level of fat in the crops by approximately 14%. Simultaneously, it was meaningless for the level of carbohydrates and slightly increased the level of proteins. All kinds of the LPGP-treated water increased the level of chlorophyll a but LPGPA and LPGPC decreased the level of chlorophyll b. The watering provided crops of a higher level of carotenoids, ascorbicacid and sulphur containing compounds. Watering with LPGPN was the most beneficial in this respect. Such watering influenced also composition of the essential oils extracted from the leaves. No novel components were found in the extracts butthe yield of some components was essentially influenced. Therefore, functional properties of the essential oil suitable as either a spice, flavoring agent and a cure useful in herbal medicine and aromatherapy could be tailored.