Putrescine and deficit irrigation as regulatory factors in basil plants metabolism and morpho-physiology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to alleviate the harmful effects of water restriction, by applying foliar doses of putrescine (0, 50, 100 and 150 mg L-1) on basil plants, as well as, understand the different soil water levels (60% and 80% of soil capacity) on plant development. We evaluated the physiology and metabolic pathways of plants. Basil plants under water restriction (60% of soil capacity) reduced their growth and dry matter accumulation, leaf water status, physiological variables, and photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, the exogenous putrescine sprays, influenced the biometric and physiological variables, photosynthetic pigments, and proline levels. Our research suggests that exogenous putrescine sprays promote different behaviours on Basil spp., through the activation of tolerance mechanisms in basil plants under moderate water deficit, principally by the proline accumulation in the leaves. Moreover, the oil chemical profile was determined by the water availability in the soil.