Abstract
Wall rocket is a leafy vegetable with pungent flavor related to the presence of isothiocyanates (ITCs). Despite interest in it as a crop of high organoleptic quality, the variability of the volatile profile in the species remains unknown. Twenty-four populations grown under a greenhouse were evaluated. A considerable diversity for the total levels of volatiles was found, providing information of the aroma intensity among accessions. ITCs represented the main fraction. Allyl ITC was the main compound, and levels showed up to 6-fold difference among populations. The esters fraction was mainly represented by cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate and cis-3-hexenyl butyrate, with 20-fold differences among populations. Additionally, the content in sinigrin was evaluated as main GSL in wall rocket. Differences reached up to 13-fold. These results suggest that some populations can be used to develop highly pungent varieties, whereas some others can be selected for mild-pungent varieties, as it is the case of DER045 with low levels of ITCs and high in esters. The presence of several ITCs in the profile also suggested the presence of other novel GSLs. Overall, the work increases the knowledge in the variability of wall rocket for the volatile profile and sinigrin accumulation, a starting point for future breeding programs.
Highlights
Minor crops of the family Brassicaceae are highly appreciated in the cuisine, as they provide particular flavors to dishes like salads, pasta, pizza or meat
The volatile organic compounds were directly extracted from fresh materials using the headspace-solid phase microextraction technique (HS-SPME)
The methodology used was adequate to analyze the main compounds in wall rocket chromatograms
Summary
Minor crops of the family Brassicaceae are highly appreciated in the cuisine, as they provide particular flavors to dishes like salads, pasta, pizza or meat. This group includes leafy vegetables such as watercress Rapa) and the rocket crops or arugula. Germplasm related to these species can be considered of interest as potential crops [3], as it is the particular case of the edible wall rocket (Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC. The tender leaves of this wild vegetable have been traditionally appreciated for their characteristic pungent and sulfurous flavor
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