Differential Effects of Non-Microbial Biostimulants on Secondary Metabolites and Nitrate Content in Organic Arugula Leaves.

Abstract

Arugula leaves (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. and Eruca sativa L.) are a must-have ingredient in ready-to-eat salads, as they are prized for their appearance, taste, and flavor. The nutraceutical properties of this leafy vegetable are attributed to the presence of valuable secondary metabolites, such as phenolic acids and glucosinolates. Using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis and ion chromatography, we characterized the content of phenolic acids, glucosinolates, nitrates, and organic acids in organic arugula [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC] and evaluated how the foliar application of three different non-microbial biostimulants (a seaweed extract, a vegetable protein hydrolysate, and a tropical plant extract) modulated the expression of these. Although the application of vegetable protein hydrolysate increased, compared to control plants, the nitrate content, the application of the same biostimulant increased the total content of glucosinolates and phenolic acid derivatives by 5.2 and 17.2%. Specifically, the foliar application of the plant-based biostimulant hydrolyzed protein significantly increased the content of glucoerucin (+22.9%), glucocheirolin (+76.8%), and ferulic acid (+94.1%). The highest values of flavonoid derivatives (173.03 μg g^-1 dw) were recorded from plants subjected to the exogenous application of seaweed extract. The results obtained underscore how biostimulants, depending on their origin and composition, can be exploited not only to improve agronomic performance but also to enhance the nutraceutical content of vegetables, guaranteeing end consumers a product with premium quality characteristics.