Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Supplementary UV-B irradiation effects on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) growth and phytochemical properties

Author(s):

Jurga Sakalauskaitė*, Pranas Viškelis, Pavelas Duchovskis, Edita Dambrauskienė, Sandra Sakalauskienė, Giedrė Samuolienė, Aušra Brazaitytė

Recieved Date: 2012-06-16, Accepted Date: 2012-09-28

Abstract:

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an annual herb plant that is used as a drug, spice and fresh vegetable. In order to study the effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on some morphological and biochemical characteristics in sweet basil cv. Thai, a pot experiment was conducted in growth chamber of controlled environment at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Plants for supplementary UV-B irradiation and control plants were placed in growth chamber at 21/14°C day/night temperature and 16 h photoperiod. High-pressure sodium lamps (SON-T Agro, Philips) at a PPFD of ~300 µmol/m²/s were used for illumination. The UV-B light was provided by UV-B fluorescent tubes (TL 40W/ 12 RS UV-B Medical, Philips). Basil plants at the 3-4 leaf-pair growth stage were placed for 7 days in one of the three environments, that is control (no supplementary UV-B light) and different (2 kJ m^-2 day^-1 and 4 kJ m^-2 day^-1) supplementary UV-B light each day. The results of statistical analysis showed that supplementary UV-B irradiation has significant effects on basil morphological and biochemical characteristics. Following 7 days of UV-B treatment, there were differences in plant height, assimilating leaf area, fresh and dry biomass. Compared with the control, the UV-B dose of 2 and 4 kJ m^-2 day^-1 had a stimulating effect: the height, assimilating leaf area, fresh and dry biomass were increased significantly in basil plants. The exposure of supplementary UV-B irradiation had no significant influence on the content of photosynthetic pigments. The significant increase in total anthocyanin and total phenolic compounds and also DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity under 2 and 4 kJ m^-2 day^-1 irradiation was observed. Meanwhile, the significant increase of ascorbic acid was found in basil plants under 2 kJ m^-2 day^-1 exposures. In conclusion, it is apparent that the supplementary UV-B irradiation had beneficial influence for increasing basils growth and some biochemical constituents. 

Keywords:

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), UV-B, growth, biochemical constituents

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 342-346

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