Ibrahim MM, Al-Ansary AMF, Abd-El-Hamid AM, Ottai MES
Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2013
ABSTRACT:
Sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L. is an important medicinal plant, has been used in various uses. Seeds of two Egyptian and French basil varieties were cultivated in two locations (clay soil at El-Jammal and sandy soil at El-Hammam) for two seasons in Egypt. The analysis of variance for six characters showed highly significant differences between varieties, locations and seasons. Oil percent was the most affected character by all the interaction sources of variation; therefore, it is the best trait can measure the environmental variation on the basil plant. The Egyptian variety gave the higher herbage yield, while the French variety gave the higher essential oil yield. On the other hand, correlation estimates showed that the selection must be for plant height and number of total branches per plant if the purpose was herbage production and for number of main branches per plant and essential oil percent if the purpose was oil production. According to the genetic parameters (GCV, PCV, H2b and GA), essential oil yield per plant and number of main branches per plant can be used as a base for simple selection to improve the basil plant. Essential oil composition differed between varieties and between locations. Estragol was the major compound in the oil of both varieties at El-Jammal location. Meanwhile, estragol and methyl cinnamate were the main components for both varieties at El-Hammam location.
CITATION:
Ibrahim MM, Al-Ansary AMF, Abd-El-Hamid AM, et al. Impact of Location and Seasonal Variability on the Herbage and Essential Oil Yields of two Grown sweet Basil Varieties in Egypt. Austral J Basic Appl Sci. 2013;7(1):441-447.
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