Use of hydrogen peroxide in acclimation of basil (Ocimum basilicum l.) to salt stress

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of application of H 2 O 2 on salt tolerance and oil production in basil cv. ‘Gennaro de Menta’ grown in a hydroponic system. Seedlings were subjected to 3 levels of H 2 O 2 (0, 1, and 1000 μM) in a nutrient solution during 2 different exposure periods (24 and 48 h) and 2 levels of NaCl (0 and 80 mM). The plants were harvested at preflowering (at 15 days) and postflowering (at 25 days). At 25 days, the application of 1 μM H 2 O 2 /48 h and its reapplication at preflowering increased leaf dry mass production compared to the other salt treatments. Relative water content decreased while leaf succulence and sclerophylly index increased with salinity. The increase of succulence was more pronounced with the application of H 2 O 2 . Salinity increased the chlorophylls content only in plants without the application of H 2 O 2 . Salinity increased Cl – , Na + , and organic solutes content, this effect being more pronounced in salt treatments that received H 2 O 2 . Essential oil content, yield, and productivity were induced by salinity and H 2 O 2 . This study shows that H 2 O 2 application in nutrient solution for basil cultivation in hydroponic systems using brackish water is a viable technique for promoting biomass or essential oil yield.