Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>)
Lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) is a highly valued aromatic plant renowned for its distinct citrus aroma. This study aimed to evaluate sustainable substrates and cultivation systems for its production. Two complementary and sequential experiments were conducted: an initial expe...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Linda Signorini Giuseppe Carlo Modarelli Prospero Di Pierro Antonio Luca Langellotti Chiara Cirillo Stefania De Pascale Paolo Masi |
| author_facet | Linda Signorini Giuseppe Carlo Modarelli Prospero Di Pierro Antonio Luca Langellotti Chiara Cirillo Stefania De Pascale Paolo Masi |
| author_sort | Linda Signorini |
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| description | Lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) is a highly valued aromatic plant renowned for its distinct citrus aroma. This study aimed to evaluate sustainable substrates and cultivation systems for its production. Two complementary and sequential experiments were conducted: an initial experiment designed to compare coconut fiber mixed in varying proportions with perlite to rock wool, evaluating their effectiveness during germination and early growth (experiment 1), and a subsequent experiment aimed at assessing plant performance in a decoupled aquaponic system relative to hydroponics utilizing the best-performing coconut fiber-perlite mixture from the first phase along with rock wool as substrates (experiment 2). The substrate with 70% coconut fiber and 30% perlite (F70:P30) significantly improved seed germination, leaf number, and total leaf area of seedlings. The decoupled aquaponic cultivation system resulted in a 52.5% increase in flavonoid content, accompanied by higher calcium and magnesium uptake in stems and roots compared to hydroponics. These findings clearly underscore the potential of coconut fiber substrates mixed with perlite as sustainable alternatives to rock wool, reducing environmental impact, disposal costs, and health risks. Similarly, aquaponic cultivation emerges as a valuable strategy for sustainable lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) production, offering comparable yields to hydroponics while improving plant nutritional and phytochemical quality through beneficial plant-microbe interactions. These results provide practical evidence supporting the adoption of environmentally friendly substrates and cultivation practices, thus contributing significantly toward sustainable intensive vegetable production systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6824be874384a18af7560efe7ba0da4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d6824be874384a18af7560efe7ba0da42025-08-20T03:28:26ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011413192910.3390/plants14131929Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>)Linda Signorini0Giuseppe Carlo Modarelli1Prospero Di Pierro2Antonio Luca Langellotti3Chiara Cirillo4Stefania De Pascale5Paolo Masi6Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, 80055 Portici, ItalyLeibniz Institute of Vegetables and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), 14979 Großbeeren, GermanyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, 80055 Portici, ItalyCenter for Innovation and Development of the Food Industry (CAISIAL), University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, 80055 Portici, ItalyLemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) is a highly valued aromatic plant renowned for its distinct citrus aroma. This study aimed to evaluate sustainable substrates and cultivation systems for its production. Two complementary and sequential experiments were conducted: an initial experiment designed to compare coconut fiber mixed in varying proportions with perlite to rock wool, evaluating their effectiveness during germination and early growth (experiment 1), and a subsequent experiment aimed at assessing plant performance in a decoupled aquaponic system relative to hydroponics utilizing the best-performing coconut fiber-perlite mixture from the first phase along with rock wool as substrates (experiment 2). The substrate with 70% coconut fiber and 30% perlite (F70:P30) significantly improved seed germination, leaf number, and total leaf area of seedlings. The decoupled aquaponic cultivation system resulted in a 52.5% increase in flavonoid content, accompanied by higher calcium and magnesium uptake in stems and roots compared to hydroponics. These findings clearly underscore the potential of coconut fiber substrates mixed with perlite as sustainable alternatives to rock wool, reducing environmental impact, disposal costs, and health risks. Similarly, aquaponic cultivation emerges as a valuable strategy for sustainable lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) production, offering comparable yields to hydroponics while improving plant nutritional and phytochemical quality through beneficial plant-microbe interactions. These results provide practical evidence supporting the adoption of environmentally friendly substrates and cultivation practices, thus contributing significantly toward sustainable intensive vegetable production systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1929lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>)soilless cultivationaquaponicsflavonoidscoconut fiber |
| spellingShingle | Linda Signorini Giuseppe Carlo Modarelli Prospero Di Pierro Antonio Luca Langellotti Chiara Cirillo Stefania De Pascale Paolo Masi Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) Plants lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) soilless cultivation aquaponics flavonoids coconut fiber |
| title | Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) |
| title_full | Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) |
| title_short | Effects of Seedling Substrate and Hydroponic Versus Aquaponic Nutrient Solution on Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Eco-Physiological Response of Lemon Basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) |
| title_sort | effects of seedling substrate and hydroponic versus aquaponic nutrient solution on growth nutrient uptake and eco physiological response of lemon basil i ocimum citriodorum i |
| topic | lemon basil (<i>Ocimum × citriodorum</i>) soilless cultivation aquaponics flavonoids coconut fiber |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1929 |
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