Effects of stresses on the regulation of glucosinolates metabolism in rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.)

The glucosinolates are important health promoting compounds with proven pharmaceutical and anti-cancer properties. Among the different plant families, the Brassicaceae are particularly rich in glucosinolates. In this work the effects of pre-harvest and postharvest stresses were studied on the transcriptome and genes related to glucosinolates metabolism. Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) plants were grown using hydroponic systems in controlled growth chambers for 3 weeks prior to stress treatment. In pre-harvest was imposed salinity (200 mM NaCl), heat radical stress (40 °C), nitrate deficiency, while in post-harvest was imposed chilling (4 °C), wounding, dark and water stress. After 24 h of stress treatment the samples were collected and total RNA was extracted from stressed and control plants and sequenced with a two paired-end Illumina sequencing platform. The genes involved in the glucosinolates biosynthesis and regulation were identified from the different libraries and the changes in expression in response to different stresses are reported. From the bioinformatic analysis of transcripts a total of 181 genes involved in the glucosinolate biosynthesis and regulation were identified. The results indicated that the glucosinolate pathways can be regulated by stress applications at both pre- and postharvest stage, enhancing nutritional values of rocket and potentially related species.