Effect of Sodium Sulfate Treatment on the Modulation of Aliphatic Glucosinolates in Eruca sativa Mill Organs at Flowering Stage

Glucosinolates are secondary metabolites of the Brassicales, playing a role in plant protection and as health-promoting compounds. Here, Na2SO4 was used to modulate the aliphatic glucosinolate content in different organs of Eruca sativa Mill. In flowers, which accumulate the highest amount of glucosinolates, Na2SO4 increased the concentration of glucoraphanin, in roots of glucoerucin and in apical leaves it doubled the amount of dimeric 4-mercaptobutyl glucosinolate. The biosynthetic gene Branched-Chain Aminotransferase 4 was also induced in roots at the highest salt concentration, while in leaves all tested genes biosynthetic genes were downregulated or unaffected. Cytochromes P450 83A1 monooxygenase was downregulated at the highest salt concentration in all organs. Overall, E. sativa is a reliable source of glucosinolates, which can be modulated with Na2SO4.