Leaf biochemical constituents and its correlation with leaf oil percentage among sweet basil genotypes

Abstract

Ocimum basilicum L. genotypes collected from NBPGR, New Delhi were analysed for its leaf biochemical constituents and correlation between them with percent oil from leaves on dry weight basis were studied and presented in this article. The maximum ascorbic acid content in leaf (91.95 mg 100 g-1) was recorded in genotype IC326732 which was on par with IC110267 (90.60 mg 100 g-1) whereas, IC344681 exhibited minimum (29.26 mg 100 g-1). The highest β carotene in leaf (5.34 mg 100 g-1) was recorded in IC110267 followed by IC326771 (3.58 mg 100 g-1) while, genotype IC344681 exhibited lowest (0.76 mg 100 g-1). Total phenols in leaf was recorded maximum in genotype IC395778 and minimum by IC344681 (260.81 and 84.25 mg 100 g-1). IC395778 recorded the highest (4.44%) percent oil from leaves on dry weight basis followed by IC338959 (3.72%) whereas, the lowest (1.33%) was noticed in IC381552. The percent oil from leaf exhibited significant and positive correlation leaf chlorophyll content (0.668) whereas, phenols (0.775) and aroma score of leaves (0.775) showed highly significant positive association with leaf oil percentage on dry weight basis.