Articles
The effects of salinity stress on growth parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence of three cultivars of basil
Article number
1416_59
Pages
453 – 462
Language
English
Abstract
Known in the world as a medicinal, ornamental, melliferous, aromatic plant, basil has been less included in research studies in Romania.
The objective of the study was to establish the effect of different salinity levels on basil growth indicators and variables related to the salinity tolerance of this species.
Three cultivars of basil were tested: Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorus, Ocimum basilicum var. piperitum, Ocimum basilicum var. bulatum, at different levels of salinity: 1, 2, 4 g L‑1 and were compared with the control variant that remained untreated.
The germination process was monitored and measurements were made regarding the average height of the seedlings (cm) as well as determinations of the main indicators of chlorophyll fluorescence.
All cultivars analysed showed lower rates than the control, both in terms of germination processes and in the case of biometric indicators, the differences being significant.
The concentration of 2 g L‑1 positively influenced the height growth of seedlings for all cultivars, the highest average height of 4.3 cm was recorded for Ocimum basilicum var. bulatum, followed by Ocimum basilicum var. piperitum with 4 cm and Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorus by 3.8 cm, compared to the control (3.4 cm). There were changes in fluorescence variables at different salinity thresholds.
At 4 g L‑1 salinity concentration, all cultivars presented a lower Fm compared to the other salinity levels, the differences between them being significant.
The values of the Fv/Fm measurements were between 0.7749 when applying 1 g L‑1 to the Ocimum basilicum var. piperitum cultivar and 0.6901 when applying the concentration of 4 g L‑1 to Ocimum basilicum var. bulatum, the decrease in the ratio value indicating the presence of stress conditions and a fluorescence quenching mechanism.
The objective of the study was to establish the effect of different salinity levels on basil growth indicators and variables related to the salinity tolerance of this species.
Three cultivars of basil were tested: Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorus, Ocimum basilicum var. piperitum, Ocimum basilicum var. bulatum, at different levels of salinity: 1, 2, 4 g L‑1 and were compared with the control variant that remained untreated.
The germination process was monitored and measurements were made regarding the average height of the seedlings (cm) as well as determinations of the main indicators of chlorophyll fluorescence.
All cultivars analysed showed lower rates than the control, both in terms of germination processes and in the case of biometric indicators, the differences being significant.
The concentration of 2 g L‑1 positively influenced the height growth of seedlings for all cultivars, the highest average height of 4.3 cm was recorded for Ocimum basilicum var. bulatum, followed by Ocimum basilicum var. piperitum with 4 cm and Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorus by 3.8 cm, compared to the control (3.4 cm). There were changes in fluorescence variables at different salinity thresholds.
At 4 g L‑1 salinity concentration, all cultivars presented a lower Fm compared to the other salinity levels, the differences between them being significant.
The values of the Fv/Fm measurements were between 0.7749 when applying 1 g L‑1 to the Ocimum basilicum var. piperitum cultivar and 0.6901 when applying the concentration of 4 g L‑1 to Ocimum basilicum var. bulatum, the decrease in the ratio value indicating the presence of stress conditions and a fluorescence quenching mechanism.
Publication
Authors
M.I. Oprea, D. Giosanu, D.I. Sumedrea, A. Florea
Keywords
basil, salinity stress, chlorophyll fluorescence, biometric indicators cultivars
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