Sweet Basil Functional Quality as Shaped by Genotype and Macronutrient Concentration Reciprocal Action

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is among the most widespread aromatic plants due to its versatility of use and its beneficial health properties. This aromatic plant thrives in hydroponics, which is a valid tool to improve the production and functional quality of crops, but nevertheless, it offers the possibility to de-seasonalize production. A floating raft system was adopted to test the production and quality potential during autumn season of three different genotypes of Genovese basil (Aroma 2, Eleonora and Italiano Classico) grown in three nutrient solutions with crescent electrical conductivity (EC: 1, 2 and 3 dS m−1). The aromatic and phenolic profiles were determined by GC/MS and HPLC analysis, respectively. The combination Aroma 2 and the EC 2 dS m−1 resulted in the highest production, both in terms of fresh weight and dry biomass. The 2 dS m−1 treatment determined the major phenolic content, 44%, compared to the other two EC. Italiano Classico showed a higher total polyphenolic content in addition to a different aromatic profile compared to the other cultivars, characterized by a higher percentage of Eucalyptol (+37%) and Eugenol (+107%) and a lower percentage of linalool (−44%). Correct management of the nutritional solution combined with adequate genetic material managed an improvement in the production and the obtainment of the desired aromatic and phenolic profiles.

Morpho-Physiological Responses and Secondary Metabolites Modulation by Preharvest Factors of Three Hydroponically Grown Genovese Basil Cultivars

“…“Aroma 2” and “Italiano Classico” phenolic profiles had a higher concentration of rosmarinic acid (a compound found to be the more predominant in basil), in contrast to “Eleonora” that accumulated more chicoric acid. A recent study performed in an FRS provided comparable results, highlighting a significant cultivar-dependent response to chicoric and rosmarinic acid accumulation using the same cultivars of Genovese basil ( Ciriello et al, 2020 ). Rosmarinic acid accumulation was higher than the one obtained by Sgherri et al (2010) in a soilless experiment, but well below the values of Javanmardi et al (2002) in the open field.…”

“…Regardless of plant density and cuts, “Aroma 2” exhibited a better adaptability to the FRS, ensuring higher fresh yield and dry biomass per square meter, which can be ascribed to a better photosynthetic performance and a higher number of leaves and nodes per plant. On the contrary, a recent comparative study illustrated for the same cultivars grown in the autumn–winter season a diametrically opposite production response, indicating a high impact of the environmental factors ( Ciriello et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The higher concentration of 1-octen-3-ol and α-bergamotene in “Eleonora” and the lower of β-cis-Ocimene in “Italiano Classico” are traits fixed by the genotype. Recent experiments carried out under different conditions and growth systems with the same cultivars showed an increased accumulation of the abovementioned minor compounds, which contribute to enrich and diversify the aromatic bouquet of basil ( Ciriello et al, 2020 , 2021 ). In dill ( Anethum graveolens L.) plants grown in the open field, the employment of high densities resulted in significantly increased amounts of major aroma compounds due to the root competition for water and nutrients ( El-Zaeddi et al, 2017 ).…”

Genotype and Successive Harvests Interaction Affects Phenolic Acids and Aroma Profile of Genovese Basil for Pesto Sauce Production

“…The free phenolic acids extraction and quantification (i.e., caffeic, rosmarinic, chicoric, p-Coumaric, and ferulic acids) were performed by High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) according to the method described by Ciriello et al [33].…”

Biomass production and essential oil content and composition in basil hydroponic systems using treated domestic effluents

“…oil varied because of the genotypic differences of the basil, which partially explained the results. A complementary explanation of these differences (plant spacing in the channels of hydroponic systems) may be related to the inter or intraspecific competition of plants for light, air, water and nutrients (Maboko and Du Plooy, 2013;Skrypnik et al, 2019), modifying the assimilation capacity and, therefore, the secondary metabolism in favor of biosynthesis and the accumulation of different volatile compounds (Hassanpouraghdam et al, 2010;Ciriello et al, 2020).…”