Effect of water supply on the physiological characteristic and production of basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.)
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: Summary Different levels of soil water capacity (SWC 30-50-70%) resulted in significant changes in physiological parameters of Ocimum basilicum L. 'Genovese' in a pot experiment. Compared to the control plants (water supply to 70% SWC) the driest condition (30% SWC) caused a decrease of the relative water content (RWC) in the plants by 20%. Additionally, their water potential was reduced to 45% of the control plants. The same treatment increased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) indicating the level of oxidative stress, by 52% compared to the leaves of the control plants. However, under a moderate water deficit (50% SWC), the plants exhibited a less severe decrease in RWC and water potential, as well as less oxidative stress. Although the reduction of the SWC to 50% did not significantly affect the dry shoot mass, a more severe water stress (30% SWC) reduced it by 34%, compared to the control plants. The essential oil concentration per plant dry mass showed only a slight increase in consequence of drought stress (significant at 90% confidence level). The essential oil production calculated to a single individual is determined basically by the changes in the biomass, thus, the lowest results were found in the driest soil. Water supply modified the quantitative composition of the oil: the proportion of linalool decreased from 59.68 to 44.39%. The samples of the stressed plants contained some minor components, (β-myrcene, 2-octanone) not present in the control samples.
Institutions: Corvinus University of Budapest, Eötvös Loránd University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2418548693