Phytochemical response of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) variety CIM Shishir to foliar application of botanical biostimulants
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31783/elsr.2024.1024051Keywords:
biostimulants, essential oil, herb yield, sweet basil, weed leaf extractAbstract
The aromatic herb basil is rich in minerals, micronutrients, and therapeutic properties. The present pot culture study was conducted to investigate the impact of foliar application of botanical extracts on the physiology of crop along with its biomass, essential oil yield and composition in Ocimum basilicum L. cv. CIM-Shisir. The experiment consists of thirteen treatments of foliar application of botanical biostimulants having three consecutive concentrations (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%), arranged in completely randomized with four replications. Three foliar applications of all the treatments were done at pre branching stage (25 DAP), branching stage (35 DAP) and pre-flowering stage (55 DAP). The study revealed that 1.0% Echinochloa colona L. extract produced higher fresh biomass (266 gram pot-1), dry biomass (89.7 gram pot-1), fresh root (48.5 gram pot-1), dry root (20 gram pot-1), oil yield (2.4 ml pot-1) and relative water content (59.13%) of basil compared to all the other biostimulants and control treatments. Although 1.0% seaweed extract gave higher total chlorophyll content (0.71 mg g-1 fresh weight). Major volatile compounds of oil were Linalool (63-68%), Camphor (9.5-10.3%), and 1,8 Cineole (7.1-8.5%). Conclusively these weed leaf extracts may be used effectively to improve the growth and yield of basil.
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