Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology (Jan 2009)
Genetic variability for mineral concentration of Eruca sativa L. and Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. accessions
Abstract
Eruca sativa L. (rocket or arugula) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. (perennial wall-rocket), are important leafyvegetables and are significant sources of minerals for human nutrition and commonly found in the Mediterranean basin,southern Europe, and Central Asia. The objectives of this study were to determine genotypic variability among and within E.sativa and D. tenuifolia genotypes for NO3, NO2, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn concentrations; to estimate genotypex environment interaction; and to assess relationships among leaf mineral concentration during two consecutive springseasons. E. sativa and D. tenuifolia leaves contained significant amounts of nutritionally important minerals. In general,genotypic variation was lower than phenotypic variation for all mineral concentrations considered, indicating the influence ofenvironment on the expression of analyzed traits. The variance between genotypes and relative importance within genotypevariation indicates that NO3, NO2, K, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentrations may be improved by selecting among cultivars, if theheritability is adequate.
