Micromorphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of Ocimum basilicum L. CV. „Aromat de Buzău” under salt stress
September 9, 2026
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| Article Title: | Micromorphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of Ocimum basilicum L. CV. „Aromat de Buzău” under salt stress |
| Authors: | Olaru E.-I., Zamfirache M.-M. |
| Affiliation: | Faculty of Biology, „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Carol I Bd., no. 20A, 700505, Iași, Romania |
| Abstract: | Excessive soil salinity severely limits crop productivity. This study evaluates the micromorphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of the Romanian basil variety (‘Aromat de Buzău’) to NaCl-induced salt stress (100–200 mM) against a control. Evaluated under both controlled laboratory and semi-open greenhouse conditions, the analyzed parameters included stomatal traits, photosystem II efficiency, assimilatory pigments, antioxidants, and oxidative stress enzymes. Results demonstrate an adaptive response dependent on both stress intensity and environment. Notably, the variety exhibited significant stomatal plasticity and shifted from enzymatic to non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses under high salinity, particularly in lab conditions. These findings characterize the genotype’s salinity tolerance, offering practical guidelines for cultivating basil on salinised land in Romania. |
| Keywords: | Ocimum basilicum L., salt stress, micromorphology, chlorophyll fluorescence, phenolic compounds. |
| *Correspondence: | Elena-Iren OLARU (HÂNCU), „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iași University, Faculty of Biology, Carol I Bd., no. 20A, 700505, Iași, Romania, e-mail: elenairenh@gmail.com |
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