Phenotypic evaluation and economic efficiency concerning a basil germplasm collection from S-E Romania

E. Teodorescu, R.L. Berevoianu, F. Burnichi, C. Petre
In Romania, basil crop is very appreciated from the flavoring, therapeutically, medicinal, ornamental and even religious point of view. Biodiversity conservation for this species and also creating new cultivars represents two of the main research objectives of the vegetable in this country. Vegetable Research and Development Station (V.R.D.S.) Buzau already has two basil cultivars homologated (V1 – ‘Aromat de Buzau’ and V2 – ‘Violet’). From the germplasm collection of this species there were selected eight most representative accessions of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and there were compared with two cultivars already homologated, in order to identify if one of them presents superior characteristics. Researches were organized having the purpose to mark out the main phenotipical and agro productive characteristics of the material taken into study and also to determine the economical efficiency of the yields obtained. The experimental design was a randomized block with 3 replicates. In order to analyze the results there were used analysis of variance and multiple comparison method Duncan’s test. In 2017 weather conditions, plants height varied between 78.67 cm at V1 and 26.43 cm at V5, and plants diameter varied between 36.17 cm at V5 and 89.50 cm at V7. Leaf blade had the lowest values at V5 (1.87 cm length, 1.21 cm width and 0.1083 g weight) and the highest values at V6 (12.62 cm length, 7.62 cm width and 2.6668 g weight). At V2, V8 and V10 there was observed an anthocyanin color with different intensity. The yield concerning fresh material plant‑1 varied between 760.70 g at V8 and 220.60 g at V10, and the one leaf plant‑1 242.03 g at V6 and 68.08 g at V10. Dry substance content varied between 11.62% at V5 and 21.63% at V10. These results dignify a great variability in what it concerns the biological material taken and also justify the works concerning the biodiversity preservation for this species. Due to the special characteristics (bush with reduced dimension) V5 is suitable for flowerpot culture. V6 had the yield of leaf plant‑1 equal to 242.03 g and V8 had the yield of fresh material plant‑1 equal to 760.70 g, both values being superior to V1 and V2.
Teodorescu, E., Berevoianu, R.L., Burnichi, F. and Petre, C. (2020). Phenotypic evaluation and economic efficiency concerning a basil germplasm collection from S-E Romania. Acta Hortic. 1287, 135-144
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1287.18
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1287.18
biodiversity, accessions, Ocimum basilicum L
English

Acta Horticulturae