Changes in essential oil composition and leaf traits of basil [Ocimum basilicum L.] affected by bio-stimulators / fertilizers application

ABSTRACT

Basil [Ocimum basilicum L.], a member of the Lamiaceae family, has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant in the treatment of headaches, coughs, diarrhea, constipation, warts, worms, and kidney malfunctions. To investigate the foliar application effects of bio-stimulators and bio-fertilizers on morphological and phytochemical traits of basil [Ocimum basilicum L.]. Bio-stimulators in three commercial formulations of aminolforte, kadostim and fosnutren [with concentration of 1.5 L.ha[-1]] through foliar application, and bio-fertilizers in three commercial formulations of nitroxin, super-nitro plus and barvar 2 [with concentration of 0.5 L.ha[-1]] through seed inoculation were considered as two studied factors. The results showed that the interaction effect of bio-stimulators and bio - fertilizers was significant [p<0.01] on all of studied parameters except of chlorophyll content [SPAD value]. The highest leaf fresh weight [25.47 g/plant] and leaf dry weight [6.48 g/plant] were obtained under fosnutren and nitroxin treatment, also maximum leaf number [206.33] was recorded in aminolforte and nitroxin treatment. The highest leaf area [1302.2 mm[2]/plant] was observed in kadostim and nitroxin treatment. Also results showed that the highest content of essential oil [0.43%] was obtained in aminolforte and nitroxin, methyl chavicol [37.13%] in fosnutren and super-nitro plus, geranial [29.05%] and caryophylene [6.66%] in kadostim and nitroxin, and carvacrol [31.60%] in fosnutren and nitroxin treated plants. In general, the best treatment to improve growth and phytochemical traits of Ocimum basilicum were kaclostim x nitroxin and fosnutren x nitroxin