Yield and quality of hydroponically grown sweet basil cultivars.

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is usually cultivated for culinary purposes and sold as a fresh herb and as a dried spice. The chemical composition of basil leaves has been characterized. However, little is known on the effects of agronomical practices on leaf chemical composition. In addition, the genetic background of different cultivars may specifically interact with environmental and cropping aspects. This will eventually affect basil yield and quality. This study investigated the effects of plant density, nutrient solution strength and light intensity on two cultivars of hydroponically grown sweet basil. Napoletano and Genovese basil plants were grown in a floating system using two plant density (100 and 66 plants m-2), two different nutrient solutions (single strength Hoagland and double strength Hoagland) and two different shading treatments: 0% (control) and 50% shading (obtained by using a 50% cut-offscreen). Yield components were quantified and plants were analyzed for their morphological characteristics and nutritional value.