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Enhancing Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) Tolerance to Water Deficiency through Putrescine Foliar Spray
Sudabeh Mafakheri * 1, Behvar Asghari2 , Narges Azad3
1- Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural science engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin Iran , smafakheri@gmail.com
2- Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural science engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin Iran
3- MSc Student, Department of Horticultural science engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin Iran
Abstract:   (639 Views)
Water deficiency poses a significant challenge to global agricultural systems, impacting crop performance and product quality. Compounds like putrescine have demonstrated the potential to enhance plant resilience to environmental stresses. This pot study, conducted in 2023 at Imam Khomeini International University, employed a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications, aimed to assess the impact of varied irrigation levels and foliar application of putrescine on both quantitative and qualitative traits of holy basil (Ocimum sanctum L.). Water deficiency was induced at three levels (100%, 75%, and 50% of Field Capacity), and putrescine foliar spray was applied at concentrations of 0, 0.1, and 0.2 mM. Results indicated that water scarcity significantly reduced plant growth indices, Relative Water Content (RWC), and photosynthetic pigment levels. However, foliar spray with putrescine effectively mitigated these adverse effects. Furthermore, the combination of water deficiency and the application of 0.2 mM putrescine elevated total phenolic compounds (48.76%), flavonoid compounds (54.85%), and restrained free radical DPPH (44.85%) compared to control. Putrescine-treated plants exhibited a noteworthy increase in essential oil percentage compared to the control group. Furthermore, as water deficiency increased, the essential oil composition showed an increase in the percentages of 1,8-cineole and methyl eugenol compared to control plants. The foliar application of putrescine resulted in a significant enhancement in the essential oil's key compounds in holy basil. In conclusion, foliar spray with putrescine emerges as a practical and straightforward approach to enhance both the quality and quantity of holy basil growth, particularly in semi-arid regions.
Keywords: Essential oil, Medicinal plants, Putrescine, Water deficiency.
Full-Text [PDF 711 kb]   (428 Downloads)    
Article Type: Original Research | Subject: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Received: 2024/02/6 | Accepted: 2024/01/1
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