Beneficial microorganisms enhance the growth of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under greenhouse conditions

Yonger Tamayo-Aguilar,Maria C Rueda-Barrientos,Porfirio Juarez-Lopez,Victor Lopez-Martinez,Iran Alia-Tejacal,Dagoberto Guillen-Sanchez,Odira Baque-Fuentes,Jesus O Perez-Gonzalez,Jose A Chavez-Garcia

doi:10.15835/nbha49412452

Abstract

The integration of healthy management alternatives continues to be a challenge in the organic production of aromatic and medicinal plants, including of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of three beneficial microorganisms (1) Trichoderma harzianum (TH), (2) Bacillus subtilis (BS), (3) Glomus cubense (GC) and their combinations on the growth of basil. A completely randomised design was used with a control and seven treatments with six repetitions. The control (1) was with no microorganism inoculation and the seven treatments were inoculations with the single or the combined microorganisms as follows: (2) TH, (3) BS, (4) GC, (5) TH+BS, (6) TH+GC, (7) BS+GC and (8) TH+BS+GC. Three harvests of fresh biomass were made and a number of growth variables were recorded: fresh and dry biomass, leaf area, number of commercial stems, stem length and thickness, Leaf length and width, relative chlorophyll concentration (SPAD readings) and the levels of N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Overall growth increased by 58% with TH+GC compared with the control and by 55% compared with the single inoculations (TH, BS and GC) and with the triple inoculation (TH+BS+GC). A growth increase of 51% was obtained with BS+GC compared with the control and of 38% compared with the other treatments. These results indicate co-inoculation of TH+GC or of BS+GC are useful alternative managements to increase greenhouse production of basil.

Highlights

IntroductionBecause of their perceived nutraceutical (health related) and organoleptic (aroma, flavour) benefits, the use and consumption of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) has increased across the world
Because of their perceived nutraceutical and organoleptic benefits, the use and consumption of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) has increased across the world
The results show that a direct interaction with these beneficial microorganisms in the rhizoplane of basil plants, has increased the physiological activity and other biotic and abiotic factors so as to increase plant biomass

Summary

Introduction

Because of their perceived nutraceutical (health related) and organoleptic (aroma, flavour) benefits, the use and consumption of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) has increased across the world. This increase has contributed to economic development in the agricultural sectors of many nations. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is the main species produced for export with an average fresh biomass yield of 8.45 t ha-1 and a planted area of 417 ha, of which 208 ha are produced under organic systems, a further 5 ha is produced in greenhouses and the rest under conventional (i.e. non-organic) systems (CONAGUA, 2018; Chiquito-Contreras et al, 2018). The main producing states in Mexico are Baja California (greenhouse), Morelos, Nayarit (conventional) and Baja California Sur (organic), the latter being the largest producer of basil (Sánchez-Verdugo and Avilés-Quevedo, 2012; Ojeda-Silvera et al, 2015)

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