The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth and essential oil content of Ocimum basiliciml

The potential of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance the production of essential oil and plant growth parameter was investigated in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum). The experiment was done in randomized complete block design with four treatments and four replications. Sweet basil is one of the most important plants in lamiaceae that is used as a spice and a culinary and medicinal herb. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can enhance the plant growth and development through the increase in nutrient uptake, plant hormones, reduce environment stress and increase resistant to pathogens. In this experiment, three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the control (no mycorrhiza) were tested on sweet basil plant. The plant was planted in pots and grew in greenhouse, and after 90 days that plant go to the flowering stage that is the peak of essential oil content, the plants were harvested and the growth parameter and essential oil content were measured. Results showed that the growth parameter like fresh and dry weight of plant, plant height, number of leaves and branches, root fresh and dry weight and essential oil content were higher than control in all mycorrhizal treatment, and among them the Glomus intraradices was the most effective treatment to increase the growth parameter, and oil content of Ocimum basilicum plant and the G.mosseae had the least effect. These results demonstrate that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi concomitantly increase essential oil production and biomass in an herbaceous species rich in commercially valued essential oils. Therefore, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi potentially represent an alternative way of promoting growth of this important medicinal herb, as natural ways of growing such crops are currently highly sought after in the herbal industry.