Comparative study of antioxidant activity of VIR <i>Eruca sativa</i> Mill. and <i>Diplotaxis tenuifolia</i> (L.) DC. collections

<i>Eruca</i> and <i>Diplotaxis</i> are popular Brassicaceae crops rich in phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, glucosinolates, ascorbic acid, and others. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant status of <i>Eruca</i> and <i>Diplotaxis</i> under different growing conditions (greenhouse and open field). For this purpose, the content of ascorbic acid, pigments, phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were studied. The highest accumulation of ascorbic acid was observed in <i>Diplotaxis</i> in a greenhouse, while in <i>Eruca</i> this indicator did not change significantly. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in the open field. Antioxidant activity against DPPH free radicals was as follows: Diplotaxis (open field) &gt; Eruca (open field) &gt; Diplotaxis (greenhouse) &gt; Eruca (greenhouse). It was revealed that in the open field, the speed of oxidation of the DPPH radical was higher in accessions of both crops: 61.2% in Eruca accessions and 63.0% in Diplotaxis accessions; in the greenhouse – 9.7% and 39.7%, respectively. The level of antioxidant activity and the rate of radical oxidation in <i>Eruca</i> accessions strongly depend on the place of cultivation (50.4% and 93.4%). In <i>Diplotaxis</i>, the level of antioxidant activity depends mainly on the genotype, and the rate of radical oxidation depends on the place of cultivation. A number of positive and negative relationships were identified between the parameters of antioxidant activity and the accumulation of ascorbic acid, pigments, and phenolic compounds under different growing conditions. <i>Eruca</i> accessions from China (k-31) and Diplotaxis accession 'Roket' (k-2, Russia) have been identified with optimal biochemical composition.