Author/Authors :
Mahdavikia, Hassan Department of Medicinal Plants - Shahid Bakeri Higher Education Center of Miandoab - Urmia University, Urmia, Iran , Rezaei-Chiyaneh, Esmaeil Department of Plant Production and Genetics - Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Urmia University, Urmia, Ira , Rahimi, Amir Department of Plant Production and Genetics - Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Urmia University, Urmia, Ira , Mohammadkhani, Nayer Department of Medicinal Plants - Shahid Bakeri Higher Education Center of Miandoab - Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Abstract :
Drought stress is a major environmental stress that restricts plant growth and production in the majority of
agricultural fields of the world. The application of different fertilizers, especially biofertilizers and organic
fertilizers, might play an important role in the production of medicinal plants in order to improve their resistance
to deficit water stress. In order to evaluate the effects of fertilizer treatments on antioxidant enzyme activity and
physiological characteristics of basils (Ocimum basilicum L.) under water-limited conditions, a study was
arranged as a factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two
irrigation intervals (6, and 12 days) and six fertilizers levels [chemical fertilizers (N, P, K), vermicompost (10 t
ha-1) + mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices), vermicompost +bacterial biofertilizer [Azetobarvar1
(Azotobacter vinelandii as nitrogen-fixing bacteria), Phosphatebarvar2 (Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus lentus
as phosphorus solubilizing bacteria), Pota barvar-2 (Pseudomonas koreensis and Pseudomonas vancouverensis
as potassium releasing bacteria)], bacterial biofertilizer+mycorrhizal fungi, chemical fertilizers 50% (Basic NPK
fertilizer was applied at the rate of 90–120–100 kg/ha in the form of urea, triple super phosphate, and potassium
sulfate, respectively)+ bacterial biofertilizer and control] were assigned as the first and second experimental
factors, respectively. The results showed that water limitation decreased the chlorophyll content and relative
water content, but carotenoids and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and
peroxidase) and also osmolytes (proline and sugar) contents were increased. But, the application of fertilizer
sources alleviated the drought effects, so the application of fertilizers (especially chemical fertilizers 50% +
bacterial biofertilizer) increased these traits at all irrigation levels. Overall, in addition to cellular mechanisms,
such as osmoregulation and antioxidant defense, fertilizers sources application can improve antioxidant
activities and physiological traits of basil under water-limited conditions.
Keywords :
Vermicompost , Reactive oxygen species , Mycorrhizae , Medicinal plant , Biofertilizer
