Root adaptation and ion selectivity affects the nutritional value of salt-stressed hydroponically grown baby-leaf Nasturtium officinale and Lactuca sativa

Authors

  • Juan A. Fernández Plant Production, Superior Technical School of Agricultural Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, C/Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
  • Diana Niñirola Plant Production, Superior Technical School of Agricultural Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, C/Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
  • Jesús Ochoa Plant Production, Superior Technical School of Agricultural Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, C/Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
  • Francesco Orsini Research Centre on Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity, Agricultural Sciences Dept, Bologna University
  • Giuseppina Pennisi Research Centre on Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity, Agricultural Sciences Dept, Bologna University
  • Giorgio Gianquinto Research Centre on Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity, Agricultural Sciences Dept, Bologna University
  • Catalina Egea-Gilabert Agricultural Science and Technology, Superior Technical School of Agricultural Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, C/Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain

Abstract

The response of watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.) to salinity has been scarcely addressed in literature despite its growing importance in the baby-leaf market and its wide cultivation in salt-affected agricultural regions. This work evaluates the effect of salinity (2.5, 5 and 10 dS m-1) on productive and quality features of watercress compared with another crop widely cultivated for the baby-leaf sector (lettuce, Lactuca sativa). In watercress, a linear relationship (R2=0.75) was observed between yield decrease and Cl accumulation in leaves, whereas yield was not affected by salinity in lettuce. NaCl application increased Na+ accumulation at the expense of Ca2+ uptake in the leaf tissues of both crops, but also of K+ in watercress. Health-related features were improved by salinity (e.g. increased phenolics and reduced nitrates), especially in watercress, with limited sensorial quality evaluation effects.

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Articles

Published

2016-12-31

How to Cite

Fernández, J. A., Niñirola, D., Ochoa, J., Orsini, F., Pennisi, G., Gianquinto, G., & Egea-Gilabert, C. (2016). Root adaptation and ion selectivity affects the nutritional value of salt-stressed hydroponically grown baby-leaf Nasturtium officinale and Lactuca sativa. Agricultural and Food Science, 25(4), 230–239. https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.58960
Received 2016-07-30
Accepted 2016-11-29
Published 2016-12-31