Physiological and metabolic alterations in basil (Ocimum basilicum L) varieties under distinct soil water levels / Alteraciones fisiológicas y metabólicas en variedades de albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L) bajo distintos niveles de agua del suelo

Basil (Ocimum basilicumL.) is a medicinal species used in several areas, such as food, medicines and cosmetics, and the understanding of its physiological behavior under environmental conditions is of paramount importance for the improvement of cultivation methods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different water availability under physiological, biochemical and metabolic characteristics, in three distinct genotypes: 'Alfavaca basilicão', 'Gennaro de menta' and 'Grecco à palla', during two different phenological stages (vegetative and reproductive). It was found that the water deficit promotes physiological changes to tolerate water stress, and the studied genotypes have different routes to achieve this physiological tolerance, which culminates in a distinct accumulation of metabolites in plants, and can be considered interesting if the final product is the production of essential oils.

La albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L.) es una planta medicinal utilizada en varias áreas: alimenticia, medicinal e industria cosmética; es de suma importancia el entendimiento de su comportamiento fisiológico bajo diferentes condiciones ambientales con el fin de mejorar los procesos del cultivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de diferentes disponibilidades hídricas en las características fisiológicas, bioquímicas y metabólicas en tres genotipos de albahaca: "Alfavaca basilicão", "Gennaro de menta" y "Grecco à palla" durante dos etapas fenológicas (vegetativa y reproductiva). Fue encontrado que el déficit hídrico promueve cambios fisiológicos con el fin de tolerar el estrés hídrico. Los genotipos estudiados presentaron diferentes rutas para alcanzar esta tolerancia fisiológica, la cual culmina con distintas acumulaciones de metabolitos en las plantas, y puede ser considerado interesante si el producto final es la producción de aceites esenciales.

Attenuation of salt stress by lycopene on common bean seeds / Attenuation of salt stress by lycopene on common bean seeds

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that adversely affects several physiological and biochemical aspects of plants. Antioxidants can be used as a potential remediation mechanism to promote plant resilience. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate increasing doses of the antioxidant lycopene on the germination and initial growth of common bean seedlings under conditions of salt stress. Seeds were treated with the following lycopene concentrations: 0.018; 0.036; 0.072; 0.144; and 0.288 g L-1 and two controls (negative and positive) and evaluated under two growth conditions (without and with salt stress) for physiological quality and pigment content. Data were analyzed by completely randomized design, in 2 x 7 factorial (two growth conditions, with paper towel moistened with water or salt solution x seven treatments, including five lycopene doses and two controls), in four replicates of 50 seeds by concentration. With the results of the analysis of variance, growth conditions (without and with salt stress) were compared by the Tukey test (5%), and the effects of lycopene doses were analyzed by polynomial regression. Lycopene promoted tolerance of bean seeds to salt stress and had a positive influence on the attenuation of salt harmful effects to the initial growth of seedlings, mainly at the doses of 0.072 g L-1 and 0.144 g L-1.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that adversely affects several physiological and biochemical aspects of plants. Antioxidants can be used as a potential remediation mechanism to promote plant resilience. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate increasing doses of the antioxidant lycopene on the germination and initial growth of common bean seedlings under conditions of salt stress. Seeds were treated with the following lycopene concentrations: 0.018; 0.036; 0.072; 0.144; and 0.288 g L-1 and two controls (negative and positive) and evaluated under two growth conditions (without and with salt stress) for physiological quality and pigment content. Data were analyzed by completely randomized design, in 2 x 7 factorial (two growth conditions, with paper towel moistened with water or salt solution x seven treatments, including five lycopene doses and two controls), in four replicates of 50 seeds by concentration. With the results of the analysis of variance, growth conditions (without and with salt stress) were compared by the Tukey test (5%), and the effects of lycopene doses were analyzed by polynomial regression. Lycopene promoted tolerance of bean seeds to salt stress and had a positive influence on the attenuation of salt harmful effects to the initial growth of seedlings, mainly at the doses of 0.072 g L-1 and 0.144 g L-1.