Influence of the Growing Conditions in the Content of Vitamin C in Diplotaxis Erucoides

Diplotaxis erucoides is an edible plant with potential for marketing. Here, we analysed the influence of the growing conditions in this species, D. tenuifolia and Eruca sativa, and studied the relation among the ascorbic (AA) and dehydroascorbic (DHA) acid forms. Plants were grown in the late winter-spring season under two conditions, greenhouse and field. The contents in AA, DHA and vitamin C (VC) were analysed by HPLC. The content of VC and AA were, in general, remarkable higher in the plants grown in the field. On the other hand, the mean percentage of DHA was less than 11%, being in this case higher for plants grown in the greenhouse. Thus, growing this potential crop in the field seems a better option in order to increase the content in VC, being AA the main form present at the moment of gathering.