Efeito da hipergravidade simulada sobre a germinação, o crescimento e a produção de óleo essencial de manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Abstract

The international market for essential oils has an annual turnover of 1.8 billion dollars, yet the Brazilian participation in this market is only 0.1%. The vast biodiversity found in Brazil, although still little explored in relation to the chemical composition of its flora, places the country in a very promising position in terms of increasing its future participation in the essential oils market. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a widely cultivated aromatic plant due to its medicinal properties. The importance of this species lies in the plant architecture, coloration and morphology of its leaves and flowers, in addition to the chemical composition of its essentials oils, giving specific aromas and having various uses in the culinary, perfume and pharmaceuticals industries. In this study, two experiments were performed with the aim of studying germination in simulated hypergravity and open-air cultivation, to evaluate the growth of the basil, its yield and essential oil composition. The extraction of the essential oils was carried out by steam distillation in a Clevenger apparatus. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the compounds was performed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer detector (GC/MS). The mean values for germination under the effect of hypergravity simulation in protocols 1, 2 and 3 ranged from 81% to 87%. After this stage, the seeds exposed to simulated hypergravity were cultivated in the open-air and the fresh basil leaves were collected after 90 days to obtain the essential oils. The overall yield of oil was 0.2mL to 0.3mL and the essential oil was 0.3% to 0.4%. The largest and most predominant compound in this research was eugenol, ranging from 46% to 62%, with the second largest being linalool, which ranged from 22% to 28%. Further research in this area is essential to understand the real impact of simulated hypergravity on basil, and its effect on auxins and gene expression.