Research in Plant Metabolites

Research in Plant Metabolites

Investigation of the effects of glycine betaine on essential oil content and composition of basil under drought stress conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Reza Zare-Bavani 1
Maryam Ardashiri 2
1 Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran.
2 Former MSc. Student of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Khuzestan, Iran
10.22034/jrpsm.2025.530912.1078
Abstract
Considering the limitations of water resources and the increasing impacts of climate change, managing drought stress in agriculture has gained significant importance. Drought stress can substantially reduce both the quantity and quality of plant yields, including essential oils such as basil. This study examined the effects of drought stress and foliar application of glycine betaine on the efficiency of essential oil and its components in basil grown under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was a factorial design based on a completely randomized layout, with different levels of drought stress (0%, 25%, 50%, and 100% of the field capacity) and various concentrations of glycine betaine foliar spray (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM). Results indicated that drought stress increased essential oil yield but had mixed effects on its components. Foliar application of glycine betaine enhanced essential oil yield and improved most of its constituent compounds. The findings suggest that the use of resilience-promoting additives like glycine betaine could be an effective strategy to mitigate the negative effects of drought on both the quantity and composition of basil essential oil.
Keywords
Water stress
Geraniol
Cineole
Linalool
Essential oil yield