Leaf Metabolic, Genetic, and Morphophysiological Profiles of Cultivated and Wild Rocket Salad (Eruca and Diplotaxis Spp.).

Rocket salad (Diplotaxis spp., Eruca spp.) is a leafy vegetable rich in health-promoting compounds and widely consumed. In the present study, metabolic profiles of 40 rocket accessions mainly retrieved from gene banks were assessed. Seven glucosinolates (GLSs) and 15 flavonol compounds were detected across genotypes. Dimeric 4-mercaptobutyl-GLS and 4-(ß-d-glucopyranosyldisulfanyl)butyl-GLS were the major components of the total glucosinolate content. Flavonols were different between genera, with the exception of isorhamnetin 3,4'-diglucoside. Morphoagronomic traits and color coordinates were also scored. Results showed a negative correlation between color and GLSs, indicating these last as responsible for the increase of the intensity of green and yellow pigments as well as for the darkness of the leaf, whereas agronomic traits showed positive correlation with GLSs. Genetic diversity was assessed using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, allowing separation of the accessions on the basis of the species and elucidating the observations made by means of phenotypic data.

Resolution by recombination: breaking up Solanum pennellii introgressions.

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) genetics retains an important role in the study of biological and agronomic processes; however, its genetic resolution is often comparatively low. Community-based strategies are thus required to address this issue. Here we detail such a strategy wherein the widely used Solanum pennellii introgression lines (ILs) in the genetic background of the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are broken up into molecular marker-defined sublines as a community resource for map-based cloning.