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PLoS One

Title:		Basil seedling production environment influences subsequent yield and flavor compound concentration during greenhouse production
Author(s):		Walters KJ; Lopez RG;
Address:		"Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States of America. Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States of America"
Journal Title:		PLoS One
Year:		2022
Volume:		20220825
Issue:		8
Page Number:		e0273562 -
DOI:		10.1371/journal.pone.0273562
ISSN/ISBN:		1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Radiation intensity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration can be precisely controlled to manipulate plant yield and quality. Due to increased plant densities during seedling production, fewer inputs per plant are required, creating the potential to increase production efficiency. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to: 1) quantify the extent radiation intensity and CO2 concentration under sole-source lighting influence morphology and yield of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) seedlings, and 2) determine if differences in morphology, yield, and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration persist after transplant in a common environment. Sweet basil 'Nufar' seedlings were grown in growth chambers with target CO2 concentrations of 500 or 1,000 mumol.mol?ªª1 under light-emitting diodes (LEDs) providing target photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) of 100, 200, 400, or 600 mumol.m?ªª2.s?ªª1 for 16 h per day. After two weeks, seedlings were transplanted into a common greenhouse environment and grown until harvest. At transplant and three weeks after transplant (harvest), growth and developmental differences were quantified along with key terpenoid and phenylpropanoid concentrations at harvest. Radiation intensity and CO2 interacted influencing many aspects of plant morphology, though CO2 concentration effects were less pronounced than those of radiation intensity. As radiation intensity during seedling production increased from 100 to 600 mumol.m?ªª2.s?ªª1, basil seedlings were 38% taller, had a 713% larger leaf area, and had 65% thicker stems; at harvest, plants were 24% taller, had 56% more branches, 28% more nodes, 22% thicker stems, and weighed 80% more when fresh and dry. Additionally, after growing in a common environment for three weeks, eugenol concentration was greater in plants grown under a PPFD of 600 mumol.m?ªª2.s?ªª1 as seedlings compared to lower intensities. Therefore, increasing radiation intensity during seedling production under sole-source lighting can carry over to increase subsequent yield and eugenol concentration during finished production"
Keywords:		Carbon Dioxide Eugenol Light *Ocimum basilicum Seedlings;
Notes:		"MedlineWalters, Kellie J Lopez, Roberto G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2022/08/26 PLoS One. 2022 Aug 25; 17(8):e0273562. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273562. eCollection 2022"