Biochemical, Physiological and Yield Characteristics of Red Basil as Affected by Cultivar and Fertilization

Gabriel-Ciprian Teliban, Vasile Stoleru, Marian Burducea, Andrei Lobiuc, Neculai Munteanu, Lorena-Diana Popa and Gianluca Caruso
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Gabriel-Ciprian Teliban: Department of Horticultural Technologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Ion Ionescu de la Brad”, 3 M. Sadoveanu, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Vasile Stoleru: Department of Horticultural Technologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Ion Ionescu de la Brad”, 3 M. Sadoveanu, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Marian Burducea: Research and Development Station for Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecology, CERNESIM, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700506 Iaşi, Romania
Andrei Lobiuc: Research and Development Station for Aquaculture and Aquatic Ecology, CERNESIM, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700506 Iaşi, Romania
Neculai Munteanu: Department of Horticultural Technologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Ion Ionescu de la Brad”, 3 M. Sadoveanu, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Lorena-Diana Popa: Department of Horticultural Technologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Ion Ionescu de la Brad”, 3 M. Sadoveanu, 700440 Iasi, Romania
Gianluca Caruso: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici (Naples), Italy

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Unconventional fertilizers can act as elicitors to encourage the synthesis of phyto-pharmaceuticals in aromatic plants. In the present research, the effects of factorial combination between two red basil cultivars, ‘Opal’ and ‘De Buzau’, and four fertilization types, biosolids, organic, microorganisms and chemical, plus an unfertilized control, were assessed on fresh and dry yield, biometrical parameters, soil plant analysis development (SPAD) and antioxidant compounds and activity. Chemical fertilization increased fresh yield compared with the control, with no difference in organic and microorganism fertilization regarding dry weight. ‘De Buzau’ enhanced the number of lateral stems and plant height, the latter being better affected by chemical and microorganisms compared to the control. Chemical fertilization showed the highest leaf dry matter, nitrate content and SPAD, whereas the control showed the lowest. Compared to the unfertilized control, biosolids increased total phenolics in ‘Opal’; microorganisms, organic and biosolids enhanced total flavonoids in ‘Opal’, with the same effect under microorganisms and organic treatments in ‘De Buzau’. Total anthocyanins showed the highest content in ‘Opal’ under organic fertilization. The highest antioxidant activity in the basil extracts was detected under microorganisms and organic applications in ‘Opal’. The present investigation results demonstrate that unconventional fertilizers increase the synthesis of antioxidants and represent a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilization for growing red basil.

Keywords: Ocimum basilicum L.; unconventional fertilizers; production; SPAD; nitrate; antioxidant compounds and activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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