| heal.abstract |
BACKGROUND: Turnip-rooted parsley, a field-crop of northern Europe, has recently been introduced to the Mediterranean region for fresh consumption or production of essentialoil. Because of soil salinity within this area, the sensitivity of turnip-rooted and two other parsley subspecies (plain- and curly-leafed) to salt was studied. RESULTS: NaCl or CaCl2 additions to the irrigation water raised the electrical conductivity (EC) in increments from 0.5 dS m-1 to 4.5 dS m-1 (year 1) or 6.0 dS m-1 (year 2), reducing parsley foliage weight in year 2, but increasing the root weight of turnip-rooted parsleyin year 1. Raising the EC with NaCl increased the yield of foliar essential oil from curly-leafed parsley (both years), but not from the other cultivars. CaCl2 had less effect on oil yield. The relative concentrations of the principal aroma constituents (β-phellandrene, myristicin, β-myrcene and apiole) of the foliar essential oil were affected by NaCl or CaCl2 in a way that differed between cultivars. Oil yield from parsley roots was very low and apparently unaffected by salinity. CONCLUSION: All three parsley sub speciesare moderately sensitive to salinity, but may becultivate dat <4.5 dSm-1 EC. Salinity may assist oil production by increasing oil yield (curly-leafed parsley) and positively affecting certain aroma constituents. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry. |
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