| Summary: | The effects of combinations of oxalic acid (OA) treatment with modified atmosphere packaging on the quality and biochemical content changes of rocket (<i>Eruca sativa</i> Mill. cv. Bengi) leaves were examined. After harvest, selected leaves were dipped into an aqueous solution containing different concentrations of oxalic acid (0-control, 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, and 1 mM) for 1 min. Treated samples were dried and placed in modified atmosphere packages. Treated rockets were stored at two different temperatures (0 °C and 10 °C) and 90 ± 5% relative humidity conditions for 10 days. Leaves were analyzed at 2-day intervals for some quality and biochemical parameters during storage. OA-treated leaves were greener than those of the control group. At the end of the storage, high doses (1 mM) of OA applications successfully suppressed the respiration rate (0 °C: 63.12 mL CO<sub>2</sub> kg<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, 10 °C: 78.09 mL CO<sub>2</sub> kg<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>) and retarded the weight loss (0 °C: 0.14%, 10 °C: 0.49%) and color discoloration (0 °C: ∆E 7.23, 10 °C: ∆E 8.34) of rocket leaves. In addition, OA treatments decreased the vitamin C losses and chlorophyll degradation. In conclusion, rocket leaves could be stored at 0 °C for 8–9 days with 1 mM OA treatment and 6 days with the control treatment and at 10 °C for 6–7 days with 1 mM OA treatment and 4 days with the control (C) treatment with a minimum quality loss under MAP conditions.
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