Some Perspectives on Rocket As a Vegetable Crop: a Review

2012 vol. 76, 21-41 DOI: 10.2478/v10032-012-0002-5 ________________________________________________________________________________________ SOME PERSPECTIVES ON ROCKET AS A VEGETABLE CROP: A REVIEW Matthew K.D. HALL, Jenny J. JOBLING, Gordon S. ROGERS Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Sydney, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh, NSW, Australia, 2015 Received: February 5, 2012; Accepted: April 21, 2012 Summary Baby leaf rocket is consumed worldwide as a salad vegetable. It is usually mixed with other baby leaf crops, such as spinach and lettuce, to form a mesclun-type salad. Rocket crops have become popular due to their distinct taste and textural appearance in mixed salads. There are two common forms of rocket that are commercially cultivated, a perennial species (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.) known as perennial wall rocket and an annual species (Eruca sativa Mill.) known as annual garden rocket. The popularity of baby leaf crops has increased in recent years due to consumer demand for a convenient, nutritious and easily accessible product. The baby leaf salad sector is now a significant part of the leafy vegetable market, with growth in this sector esti- mated to continue. The leaves of cultivars of perennial wall rocket and annual garden rocket have been bred to look similar, allowing for a year-round supply of produce. Despite this, there are many differences between the species that affect their responses to abiotic factors during growth and storage. This paper aims to provide some perspectives on the historical importance, botanical classification and cultivation techniques of these economically important plants. key words: arugula, baby leaf, botanical, glucosinolates, history, rucola, salad, vitamin C HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL and many of its derivatives, including IMPORTANCE OF ROCKET rughetta, rucola, roquette and others, most likely descended from the Latin ‘Rocket’ is a common name used word roc, meaning harsh or rough for some species in the family (Pignone 1997). Common names cur- Brassicaceae that have a pungent rently used to describe these species aroma and a sharp taste. They are include roquette, rucola, arugula and native to the Mediterranean and Near rocket. As with all common names, East, and they possibly acquired their the choice of common name varies original common name from the Lat- with ethnicity, location and language in-speaking Roman citizens who in- group. habited this area. The common name *Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected] © Copyright by InHort 22 VEGETABLE CROPS RESEARCH BULLETIN 76 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ These differences all contribute to the “Th’ eruca, plant, which gives jaded confusion surrounding the correct appetite the spur.” (Stark 1980). informal labeling of these species. This description emphasizes Rocket has been well-document- rocket’s aphrodisiac properties con- ed in ancient literature, where it is cerning the sexual appetite, which was called euzomon, gargir and oroth believed to be important during this (Yaniv et al. 1998). The leaves have period. The aphrodisiac properties of been used for thousands of years to rocket plants are still regarded as ex- season food and oil, for the produc- cellent today (Pratap & Gupta 2009). tion of deodorants and cosmetics and Rocket’s extensive and continued for medicinal purposes (Blangiforti & description as an aphrodisiac subse- Venora 1997, Pratap & Gupta 2009). quently led to the banning of these These plants have had an interesting plants in monastic gardens, as aphro- and turbulent journey, much of which disiac or mind-altering substances has occurred in the last 20 years, to were forbidden (Stark 1980, Mas- becoming the favored leafy greens cagno 1987). Despite this ban, rocket that they are today. To effectively species were extensively grown in describe rocket’s significance and monastic herb gardens, and they were popularity as a crop, it is useful to important for flavoring foods and place its recent global utilization into enhancing medicinal remedies. a historical context. Throughout the Abrahamic peri- “Th’ eruca, Priapus, near thee we od (500-300 B.C.), rocket was em- sow to rouse to duty husbands who ployed in a wide variety of applica- are slow.” (Davenport 1869). tions. Passages of the Old Testament The above inscription appears on describe the collection of leaves from the base of statues of the Greek God wild rocket plants, which in this peri- Priapus and refers to rocket’s reputa- od were called oroth: tion as an aphrodisiac. Rocket’s ability “One of them went out into the field to restore vigor to sexual organs is well- to gather oroth, and found a wild vine documented and celebrated throughout and gathered from it his lap full of ancient literature (Davenport 1869, wild gourds, and came and cut them Fernald 1993, Barillari et al. 2005). up into the pot of pottage, not know- Priapus was believed to be the protec- ing what they were. And they poured tor of the reproductive productivity of out for the men to eat.” II Kings 4: livestock, plants and human male geni- 39-40. talia. This inscription illustrates the significance that rocket plants played This passage illustrates that in the religious beliefs of ancient civi- rocket was a useful forage food during lizations of the Mediterranean region. this period. The mistake of the author Publius Vergilius Maro, who is in referring to oroth as growing from most commonly known by the Angli- a vine is comparable to other gram- cized name Virgil, was a famous natu- matical and translation discrepancies ralist and poet who lived in Rome contained in the Old Testament (Ni- between 70-19 B.C. Virgil is known cole 1959). Many scientists agree that to have described rocket as follows: the garden vegetable called oroth in M.K.D. HALL et al. – SOME PERSPECTIVES ON ROCKET … 23 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ these verses is in fact rocket (Zohary with religious significance, but it also 1982, Yaniv et al. 1998, Duke et al. had a wide array of medicinal proper- 2008). ties. The uses of rocket species as During the Hellenistic period salads and spices were also recorded (323-146 B.C.), rocket was mentioned during this period by the Roman bota- many times, particularly in the Mish- nist Dioscorides, in Materia Medica na and Talmud. These Jewish manu- [therapeutic properties for healing], scripts describe rocket’s use as a spice, which was written in the first century food and medicine (Yaniv et al. 1998). A.D. (Gunther 1968). The uses of rocket recorded in these Although rocket species have manuscripts reflect the major ways in had a long and dubious journey to which rocket has been used since the their current widespread cultivation, it Hellenistic period across large geo- is interesting to note that the surge in graphical areas, including flavoring production did not occur until the foods and producing medicines. mid-1990’s. Increased interest in the- Rocket’s importance as a multi- se species was largely a result of the use vegetable was primarily recorded International Plant Genetic Resources by Caius Plinius Secundus, or Pliny Institute (IPGRI) workshops, which the Elder, who lived during the period were held in 1994 in Lisbon, Portugal 23-79 A.D. Pliny, like Virgil, shared a and in 1995 in Legnaro, Italy passion for naturalist writings and (Padulosi 1995, Padulosi & Pignone identified and recorded rocket’s po- 1997). These workshops aimed to tential for many different medicinal maintain genetic diversity and to uses. A total of twelve applications promote an improved understanding were recorded, an example of which of different rocket species, presenting includes the following: them as viable alternative crops for use in mixed salads. “So agreeable is its flavour as a sa- In the last quarter of a century, vouring for food, that the Greeks have three major changes have occurred given it the name of ‘euzomon’. It is that lead to the rise of rocket as an generally thought that rocket, lightly attractive alternate leafy crop. First, bruised, and employed as a fomenta- value-added products were developed, tion for the eyes, will restore the sight particularly in the processed market. to its original goodness, and that it Second, new leafy species were intro- allays coughs in young infants.” duced, particularly baby leaf crops (Bostock & Riley 1855). such as rocket. Third, consumers have Such medicinal claims are com- increasingly focused on the nutritional mon from Pliny, who is claimed to quality and value of the crops that have amassed a total of 20,000 gen- they consume (Ryder 2002). These eral facts contained in 36 volumes factors, combined with the unique (Fagan 2006). Nonetheless, rocket’s taste and visually pleasing texture of importance in the Mediterranean and rocket leaves, have facilitated the rise Near East increased significantly in of rocket’s popularity globally. Rock- the first century A.D. Not only was et plants have had an interesting jour- rocket believed to be an aphrodisiac ney to their current widespread culti- 24 VEGETABLE CROPS RESEARCH BULLETIN 76 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ vation, and the future of these crops 2009). Many of these species are used looks bright. for fibers, oils, condiments, vegeta- bles and salads (Gómez-Campo 1980, BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION 1999, Gómez-Campo & Prakash

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