Mycorrhizal fungi modified growth, physiological traits, and essential oil content of sweet basil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a vital component of the belowground system and their effect on the growth, yield, and secondary metabolite content of the plants and sustainable agricultural systems has been largely noticed (Heydarizadeh et al., ۲۰۱۳; Urcoviche et al., ۲۰۱۵). Mycorrhizal fungi help plant different species to uptake water and nutrients and make physiological changes to increase the growth and productivity of the plants (Weisany et al., ۲۰۱۵). The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of two types of mycorrhizal fungi on some growth and physiological characteristics of sweet basil (Ocimium basilicum L. cv. Keshkeni Luvelou) as well as essential oil content. Therefore, a pot experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications was performed in the greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, which comprised Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Funnetiformis mossea mycorrhizal fungi and control. The results of this study indicated that mycorrhizal fungi application improved the growth and physiological traits of sweet basil as well as essential oil content. The highest plant height, leaves and aerial part biomasses, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total phenols, antioxidant activity were obtained by using Rhizophagus intradices. While the application of Funnetiformis mosseae showed the highest total soluble sugar and essential oil content. In conclusion, the findings of this experiment indicated that mycorrhizal fungi application can improve the growth and modify physiological parameters of the plants. Moreover, it may be possible to use mycorrhizal fungi to affect the essential oil content of the medicinal plants. In addition various responses of plant characteristics observe based on the fungi species.

Keywords:

Antioxidant activity , Essential oil content , Growth , Photosynthetic pigments , Sweet basil