Tolerance of Basil Genotypes to Salinity

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a medicinal species of Lamiaceae family, popularly known for its multiple benefits and high levels of volatile compounds. The species is considered to be one of the most essential oil producing plants. Also cultivated in Brazil as a condiment plant in home gardens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of salinity on the growth of basil in nutrient solution of Furlani and to identify variables related to the salinity tolerance in this species. The first assay was performed with variation of five saline levels (0 -control, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mM NaCl). In the second assay six genotypes were evaluated in two salinity levels 0 and 80 mM NaCl. The height, stem diameter, number of leaves, dry mass and inorganic solutes in different organs, photosynthetic pigments, absolute membrane integrity and relative water content were evaluated. All biometric variables in basil were significantly reduced by salinity. Dry matter yield and percentage of membrane integrity were the variables that best discriminated the characteristics of salinity tolerance among the studied basil genotypes. Basil genotypes showed a differentiated tolerance among the genotypes, the 'Toscano folha de alface' being considered as the most tolerant and 'Gennaro de menta' as the most sensitive, among the species studied.

Sweet Basil Functional Quality as Shaped by Genotype and Macronutrient Concentration Reciprocal Action

“…Identically to the observation of Maggio et al [ 41 ], an interaction between the genetic background of the different cultivars and the different concentrations of the nutrient solution was obvious, specifically in the case of fresh and dry biomass. Each cultivar achieved the best production with a specific nutrient solution, highlighting how tolerance to the concentration of salts in the nutrient solution is highly dependent on the genotype [ 38 , 42 ]. The use of nutrient solution 2 dS m −1 determined on average an increase of Aroma 2 fresh biomass of about 30% compared to those recorded with the other two nutrient solutions, confirming how the yield is negatively affected by nutrient solutions that are too concentrated and/or too diluted [ 43 ].…”

An Endophytic Fungi-Based Biostimulant Modulates Volatile and Non-Volatile Secondary Metabolites and Yield of Greenhouse Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) through Variable Mechanisms Dependent on Salinity Stress Level

“…Basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.) is an important warm-season MAP with high potential to be integrated into a wealth of cropping systems [ 14 , 15 ]. The salinity tolerance of basil is considered low [ 16 ], and the variability of the responses depends on numerous factors that include the genotype, the growing medium and conditions, including the presence in the soil of microbes with either pathogenic or beneficial activity [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Such responses are multidimensional because they affect main parameters of economic importance, such as the leaf fraction on the total above-ground biomass, and the concentration and composition of secondary compounds, including the volatile organic fractions and the essential oil [ 14 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Salt-induced changes in solutes, pigments and essential oil of two basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) genotypes under hydroponic cultivation

“…The seedlings were prepared from seeds obtained from Isla Sementes Ltda®. The genotypes 'Toscano folha de alface' (TFA) and 'Gennaro de menta' (GM), were classified as salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive in a preliminary experiment (Menezes et al, 2017) in which, it was found that 80 mM NaCl did not affect the biomass production of the leaves of the TFA, but decreased it by 61% in case of GM. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial arrangement with 2 (genotypes) × 2 (salt levels), and six replications, each consisting of 12 plants.…”

“…The seeds were sown in 150 mL plastic cups containing washed coconut fiber, irrigated daily with water from the local supply company. At 19 days after emergence (DAE), with the second pair of leaves fully expanded, the seedlings were transferred to the DFT hydroponic cultivation system (Menezes et al, 2017), with plant spacing of 0.20 m. The nutrient solution (NS) of Furlani (1998), specific for leafy vegetables (Table 1), was used for the cultivation. After 2 days of acclimation, the seedlings received respective salt treatments (0 -control or 80 mM NaCl).…”

“…Thus, the characterization of the responses of basil genotypes with different salt-tolerance is fundamental to evaluate the crop potential in saline environment (Bernstein et al, 2010). In a previous study, Menezes et al (2017) studied the salt-tolerance of six basil genotypes in a DFT hydroponic system after seedling establishment and characterized the 'Gennaro de menta' (GM) and 'Toscano folha de alface' (TFA) genotypes as sensitive and tolerant to salt stress, respectively. These genotypes showed contrasting responses in terms of plant growth and saltinduced leaf injuries.…”