The effect of drought on micro-morphological structures and secondary metabolite content of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of drought stress on the micro-morphological and physiological parameters of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), they were grown under controlled conditions for 3 months. Drought treatments were made which irrigation every five days (control group), ten days (group 1: normal stress), fifteen days (group 2: mild stress), and twenty days (group 3: under extreme stress) with 100 ml water. The most noticeable result of stress was found to be an increase in the number of stomata and a lowers in the size of the stomata in mild drought treatments. There was no differences in these parameters as the severity of stress increased. A similar effect appeared in the capitate and peltate glandular trichomes on both surfaces of the leaf. Drought stress also affected phytochemical content. While no significant differences which were observed between drought stress treatments, the difference between drought treatments and the control group was significant. As a result, the micro-morphological and physiological differences brought on by the variations in the applications allowed for the identification of the irrigation application that will maintain the secondary metabolite production of the basil plant at the maximum level.

Keywords

• fitokimyasal
• glandular tüy
• kuraklık stresi
• ocimum basilicum
• sekonder metabolit
• stoma
• phytochemical
• glandular trichome
• drought stress
• ocimum basilicum
• secondary metabolite
• stomata