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Relationships between nitrogen, dry matter accumulation and glucosinolates in Eruca sativa Mills. The applicability of the critical NO3-N levels approach

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Rocket salad (Eruca sativa Mills) is one of the major leafy vegetables produced worldwide and has been characterized as a rich source of chemoprotective glucosinolates (GSL). The relationship between N fertilization and the resulting plant biomass and N status with GSL quantity and quality in rocket leaves was examined.

Methods

A pot experiment was conducted, applying ten different N-rates and destructive sampling was carried out 15, 30 and 45 days after transplanting (DAT). The Mitscherlich equation was used to establish NO3-N critical levels at each growth stage and as an indicator of N demand for relative maximum dry matter accumulation and glucosinolate content and composition was determined.

Results

Glucosinolate content was significantly influenced by N rate, growth stage and their interaction. Different GSL types showed dissimilar responses to N fertilization: aliphatic GSLs were significantly reduced under increased N rates whereas indole GSL showed the reverse. Under excess N fertilization (>1.04 g/plant), dry matter accumulation remained constant, NO3-N was significantly increased and total GSL content was significantly reduced, factors that could lead to an anticipated product quality decline.

Conclusions

The application of the critical NO3-N level approach used to identify optimal N fertilization rates for plant growth could serve as means to obtain optimized GSL content in the edible plant parts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Foundation of Research Promotion of the Republic of Cyprus within the frame of the project “BIOFUME” 0506/07 and the Postgraduate Programmes “Biotechnology: Quality of Nutrition and the Environment” and “Applications of Molecular Biology-Genetics. Diagnostic Biomarkers”, (code 3817), of the Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly.

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  1. Michalis Omirou

    Present address: Agricultural Research Institute of Cyprus, Agricultural Microbiology Laboratory, P.O.BOX 22016, Nicosia, 1516, Cyprus

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering, Laboratory of Soils and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 11855, Athens, Greece

    Michalis Omirou & Constantinos Ehaliotis

  2. cp FoodLab LTD, P.O.Box 28729, 2082, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Chara Papastefanou

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Ploutonos 26 & Aeolou Str., Larisa, 41221, Greece

    Dimitra Katsarou & Kalliope K. Papadopoulou

  4. Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, P.O.Box 22016, 1516, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Ioannis Papastylianou

  5. Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Vegetable Production, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 11855, Athens, Greece

    Harold C. Passam

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  1. Michalis Omirou
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Omirou, M., Papastefanou, C., Katsarou, D. et al. Relationships between nitrogen, dry matter accumulation and glucosinolates in Eruca sativa Mills. The applicability of the critical NO3-N levels approach. Plant Soil 354, 347–358 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1071-9

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