EFFECT OF SOME TRACE ELEMENTS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF OCIMUM BASILICUM PLANTS

Abstract

his research was conducted at El-Qantara Sharq Station, North Sinai, Egypt of Desert Research Center during the two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015. The main objective was to study the effect of microelements [Fe, Zn, Mn, Fe+Zn, Fe+Mn, Zn+Mn and Fe+Zn+Mn, at 50 ppm each], on growth, yield and essential oil content of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plant. Treatment of Fe+Zn+Mn, at 50 ppm each, produced the highest values of plant growth characters, oil content, N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn in plant tissues. Also, this treatment increased the concentrations of l-linalool to 52.69% and 1,8 cineole to 25.66%.