Genetic variability for mineral concentration of Eruca sativa L. and Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. accessions

Eruca sativa L. (rocket or arugula) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. (perennial wall-rocket), are important leafy vegetables 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 genotype environment interaction, and to assess relationships among leaf mineral concentration during two consecutive spring seasons E sativa and D tenuifolia leaves contained significant amounts of nutritionally important minerals In general, genotype variations was lower than phenotype variation for all mineral concentrations considered, indicating the influence of environment on the expression of analyzed traits The variance between genotypes and relative importance within genotype variation indicates that NO3, NO2, K, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentrations may be improved by selecting among cultivars, if the heritability is adequate