Agronomic performance and essential oil composition of Ocimum basilicum L. : effect of genotype and date of harvest

• Autores: Vázquez, Arnaldo; Sánchez, Emiliana Cecilia; Baren, Catalina M. van; Frezza, Diana
• Año de publicación: 2013
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Fuente: Advances in Horticultural Science; Vol.27, no.4; 166-172; http://www.fupress.com/
• Materia: ACEITES ESENCIALES; PLANTAS OLEAGINOSAS; OCIMUM BASILICUM; CULTIVO; COSECHA; BUENAS PRACTICAS AGRICOLAS; GREEN BASIL; PURPLE BASIL; SOILLES CULTURE; VOLATILE OILS; YIELD
• Institución: Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía

Fil: Vázquez, Arnaldo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fil: Sánchez, Emiliana Cecilia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Horticultura. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fil: Baren, Catalina M. van. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Farmacognosia. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fil: Frezza, Diana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Cátedra de Horticultura. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An experiment was conducted to assess the agronomic performance and essential oil composition of Ocimum basilicum L. [basil] with two genotypes during autumn-winter cycle, in a hydroponic system in greenhouse. Genotypes (i.e. green and purple) were provided to study productive parameters. Two harvest dates and both genotypes formed treatments to investigate oil composition and its stability. One pruning was made before the last harvests. Results of fresh and dry weight (g. plant-¹), absolute growth rate (g. day-¹) and relative growth (g. g-¹. day-¹) and yield (g. plant-¹) showed great differences in comparison with the optimal growing season values. Although pruning encourages new growth, it was strongly reduced in purple basil. Essential oil composition varied for both genotypes and between harvest dates. Linalool prevailed at the first harvest date whereas methyl-eugenol increased towards the second harvest date, and significantly in purple basil. Radiation and temperature data showed a downward trend during the cycle which influenced biomass production and essential oil composition. Green basil had better productive behavior than the purple variety. Essential oil stability between harvest dates varied for both genotypes. Pruning strongly affected purple basil growth which altered essential oil composition. The findings presented in this study confirm that it is possible to grow basil in autumn-winter season in greenhouse. Although yield slightly decreases in comparison with optimal growing season, high quality aromatic plants can be obtained.
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