Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pot volume and growth environment on the productions of biomass and essential oil of basil plants (Ocimum basilicum L.). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with five replications, in a 6×2 factorial arrangement consisting of 6 growth environments (full sun; 50% black shade screen; 50% silver shade screen; 50% red shade screen; 35% green shade screen; 150 µm low density polyethylene film - LDPE) and two pot volumes (3.5 L and 5.0 L). The plants were cut and evaluated for variables related to growth, root system, and extraction of essential oil. The growth environments and pot volumes affected the production of biomass and essential oil of the basil plants evaluated. Plants grown under red and silver shade screens had 36.03% and 31.31% higher plant height than those grown at full sun, respectively. Basil plants grown in 5.0-liter pots under black shade screen produced higher essential oil contents. The biomass production of basil plants grown in 5.0-liter pots was affected by the red and green shade screens and LDPE film. The growth of basil plants in 5.0-liter pots under 50% black shade screen is recommended when the crop is intended for essential oil extraction; and their growth in 5.0-liter pots under red shade screen, green shade screen, or LDPE film is recommended when the crop is intended for fresh biomass production.
Highlights
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is native to Asia (Middle East) and belongs to the Lamiaceae family; it is an annual or perennial plant depending on the location that it is grown (LUZ et al, 2014)
The basil plants grown under the 50% black shade screen or 50% silver shade screen had higher root system length than those grown under full sun conditions; and the plants grown under 50% silver shade screen had higher root system density than those grown at full sun (Table 2)
The results found by Martins et al (2008) confirm those found in the present study; they found higher root to shoot ratio in crops grown under full sun, indicating a higher biomass allocation to the root system when compared to plants grown under shading
Summary
Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is native to Asia (Middle East) and belongs to the Lamiaceae family; it is an annual or perennial plant depending on the location that it is grown (LUZ et al, 2014). Basil is commercially grown for use of its leaves fresh or dried as aromatizing and condiment products, and for essential oil extraction, which is important for perfumery, food, and beverage industries (BLANK et al, 2007). The world basil production is approximately 830 Mg year-1, and the extraction of its essential oil generates an income of US$ 6.5 million. Data for this crop in Brazil is scarce, it is the second most marketed aromatic plant in the Warehouse and General Storage Company of São Paulo (CEAGESP), with volumes of 5,000 to 7,000 bunches per month; and the varieties with purple leaves represent 15% to 20% of the total basil produced in Brazil (GENUNCIO et al, 2018)
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