Int.

Agrophysics, 2006, 20, 289-296 I N T E R N A T I O N AL

A g r o p h y s ic s
w ww .ipan.lublin.pl/int-agrophysics

Influence of water stress on growth, essential oil, and chemical composition

of herbs (Ocimum sp.)
Kh.A. Khalid
Department of Cultivation and Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Received March 31, 2006; accepted June 19, 2006

A b s t r a c t. This work investigates the influence of water Medicinal and aromatic plants are of prime economic
stress on vegetative growth, essential oil, proline, total carbo- importance because of the continuous and increasing
hydrates, N, P, K, and protein contents of two species of an herb demand for their products by local and foreign markets.
plant ie Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) and Ocimum ameri-
Basil is one of the most important plants in this regard. Its
canum L. (american basil). Experiments were carried out during
two successive seasons, 2004 and 2005, with experimental pots essential oil is extensively employed in several European
containing Typic Torrifluvents soil (a clay loam) in a growth countries and the USA for flavouring and foodstuffs,
chamber at the Experimental Farm, National Research Center confectionery goods, condiments, and toiletry products such
(NRC), Giza, Egypt. as mouthwashes and dental creams. It also finds a prime
Seedlings were treated with different levels of water-stress, place in the flavouring of foods such as spices, meats,
determined as a percentage of field water capacity (FWC) by sausages, tomato pastes, various kinds of sauces, fancy
weight (50, 75, 100, and 125%). Fresh and dry weights of the herbs vinegars, pickles, ketchups, and beverages. In the perfume
were significantly influenced by water stress. For both species
industry, the essential oil is used for compounding popular
under water stress, essential oil percentage, the main constituents
of essential oil, proline, and total carbohydrate content increased,
perfumes, notably jasmine blends. Different parts of the
and N, P, K, and protein content decreased. Seventy five percent plants are used in endogenous cultures for medicine and
field water capacity resulted in the highest yield of herb and homoeopathy. It is also used as a febrifuge and antimalarial
essential oil for both species. plant. The plant infusions are taken for cephalalgia, gouty
K e y w o r d s: Ocimum sp., water stress, vegetative growth, joints, and gargle for foul breath. The juice obtained from
essential oil, chemical composition leaves relieves sore throats and earaches and counteracts
ring worm. Seeds are used internally for constipation and
INTRODUCTION piles (Husain et al., 1988).
In aromatic plants, growth and essential oil production
The genus Ocimum (family Labiatae) includes at least are influenced by various environmental factors, such as
60 species and numerous varieties (Sirvastava, 1982). It re- water stress (Burbott and Loomis, 1969). Solinas and
presents an important source of essential oil used in the food, Deiana (1996), reported that secondary products of plants
perfumery, and cosmetics industries. Some Ocimum species can be altered by environmental factors and water stress is
are used in traditional medicine for different applications, a major factor affecting the synthesis of natural products.
especially in many Asian and African countries (Yusuf et Changes in essential oils extracted from aromatic plants and
al., 1994). The recurring polymorphism determines a large their composition were observed with water stress (Sabih et
number of subspecies that produce essential oils with al., 1999). Water stress resulted in significant reduction of
varying chemical composition. Some have a high camphor fresh and dry matter, nutrient content, and essential oil yield
content, while others contain citral, geraniol, methylchavi- of Japanese mint plants (Mirsa and Strivastava, 2000). Fresh
col, eugenol, and thymol (Lawrence et al., 1980). and dry weights of Ocimum basilicum L. were decreased as
plant water deficit increased (Simon et al., 1992). The

Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] © 2006 Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
290 Kh.A. KHALID

linalool and methyl chavicol contents of sweet basil, as the pots were transferred to a growth chamber adjusted to
percentage of total essential oil, increased as water stress 35/24°C, 90/60% RH day/night and light intensity of
increased (Simon et al., 1992). Essential oil and proline approximately 3700 Lux for a period of 12 days. Each pot
contents of sweet basil increased in response to water stress was filled with 10 kg of air-dried Typic Torrifluvents soil
but plant growth was decreased with increasing water stress. (USDA 1999), with a field water capacity of 43.5% based on
The essential oil yield of basil was increased by subjecting the weight of the soil. Three weeks after transplanting, the
plants to water stress just before harvesting (Baeck et al., seedlings were thinned to two plants per pot. Plants of both
2001). Water stress reduced fresh and dry weights of Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum americanum L. were
Satureja hortensis L. (Savory) plants. Severe water stress subjected to different levels of water stress: 125, 100, 75,
increased essential oil content more than moderate water and 50% corresponding to the field water capacity (FWC)
stress. The main constituents, such as carvacrol, increased determined in the field (by weight). The first treatment
under moderate water stress, while ã-terpinene content (125% of field water capacity) was applied once at the
decreased under moderate and severe water stress of beginning of the experiment; then the same amount of water
Satureja hortensis L. (Baher et al., 2002). Essential oil, total was added to this treatment as was added to the 100%
carbohydrate, and proline contents were pronouncedly treatment, but drainage was prevented to maintain the 125%
increased with increasing stress levels of Salvia officinalis field water capacity level. A randomized factorial design
L. (Sage) plants (Hendawy and Khalid, 2005). with four replications was used in each season. Each
The major challenge facing water planners and replication contained eight treatments (2 Ocimum sp. x 4 water
managers is the availability of water. Its amount is fixed, but stress treatments). Each treatment had eight pots (2 plants
demand for it will continue to increase steadily into the fore- per each). All agricultural practices, other than the experi-
seeable future. Reclamation of desert lands has been a top mental treatments, were done according to the recom-
priority and challenge for the Egyptian government for the mendation of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture.
last few decades. In this study, we investigate the possible At full bloom, the plants were harvested three times
effect of water stress on the vegetative growth, essential oil (first, second, and third cuttings) during the growing sea-
content, and chemical content of Ocimum basilicum L. and sons, by cutting the plants 5 cm above the soil surface. Total
Ocimum americanum L., that are two economically impor- fresh and dry weights of the herbs (g plant-1) were recorded.
tant plants in Egypt. The following chemical analyses were determined:
Fresh plants were collected from each treatment during
MATERIALS AND METHODS the first, second, and third cuttings. They were dried by air
and weighed to extract the essential oil. Dry plant material
Experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm, (300 g) from each replicate of all treatments was subjected to
National Research Centre (NRC), Giza, Egypt, during two steam distillation for 3 h using a Clevenger type apparatus
successive seasons, 2004 and 2005. Physical and chemical (Clevenger, 1928). The essential oil content was calculated
properties of the soil used in this study were determined as a percentage. In addition, total essential oil as g per plant
according to Jackson (1973) and Cottenie et al. (1982), and was calculated by using the dry weight of the herbs. The
are presented in Table 1. essential oils extracted from Ocimum basilicum L. and
Seeds of Ocimum basilicum L. were kindly provided by Ocimum americanum L. were collected from the first,
the Department of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Ministry second, and third cuttings, then, the essential oils were
of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt, and seeds of Ocimum collected from the treatments of 125, 100, 75 and 50% to
americanum L. were introduced from Cornell University, identify the chemical constituents of the essential oil
Ithaca, New York, USA, through scientific exchange, and extracted from Ocimum sp.
were cultivated in Egypt for the propagation and adaptation Constituents of essential oil were determined by
to the environmental conditions of the country. Seeds of gas-liquid chromatography. The chromatograph (Model
Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum americanum L. were Perkin Elmer 3920B) was equipped with a thermal
sown in a nursery (in the field) in the first week of March in conductivity detector and a 2 m x 0.3 cm column packed
both seasons. After 45 days, the seedlings were transplanted with 10% Carbwax 20 M on 80/100 Chromsorb WAW, and
into plastic pots (30 cm diameter and 50 cm in height); then hydrogen was used as the carrier gas at 0.5 cm3 s-1. The

T a b l e 1. Physical and chemical properties of the clay loam soil

Sand Silt Clay Ca CO3 OM Soluble cations and anions (meq l-1)
(%) pH EC Na +
Mg++ Ca++ K+ HCO3 -1 Co3+ Cl -1 SO4-2
26 36 38 4.5 1.3 7.7 0.57 2.23 0.88 1.11 1.48 1.12 0.73 2.1 1.62
 INFLUENCE OF WATER STRESS ON GROWTH OF HERBS 291

column temperature was 130°C and detector and injector Ocimum americanum L. were greater than those of Ocimum
temperatures were 200°C. Constituents were identified by basilicum L.; this data may be the result of genetic
retention times and in conjunction with known structures. differences between the species and suggests that Ocimum
Total carbohydrate levels were determined from plant americanum L. is more tolerant to drought and excessive
material collected at the first, second, and third harvests of water than Ocimum basilicum L. (El-Beltagy and Soliman,
each treatment. The method of Dubois et al. (1956) was used. 1983). Fresh and dry weights decreased under the various
Proline was determined in fresh leaves in the first, water stress levels. Differences among water stress
second, and third harvests using the method of Bates et al. treatments and the two species were significant. Total fresh
(1973). Proline content was calculated as the average of the and dry weights of plants were decreased due to exposure to
first, second, and third harvests. injurious levels of drought (50%) or excessive water
Total nitrogen, protein, phosphorus, and potassium in (125%). This could be the result of a reduction in
the plants collected at the first, second, and third harvests of chlorophyll content and, consequently, photosynthesis
each treatment were determined using the methods efficiency, as a reported by Abdul-Hamid et al. (1990),
described by the Association of Official Agricultural Castonguay and Markhart (1991), Nunez-Barrious (1991),
Chemists (A.O.A.C.) (1970). and Viera et al. (1991). For both species in each season, the
The averages of data from each season were statistically highest values of total fresh and dry weights were obtained
analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and values of with the 75% field water capacity treatment.
least significant difference (L.S.D) at 5% according to As shown in Table 3, an increase in essential oil
Snedecor and Cochran (1990). percentage was observed under two water stress levels: 50%
(drought) and 125% (excessive water) of field water
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION capacity. These results are in line with those of Baher et al.,
2002. While the highest yield of essential oil (g plant-1) was
The total fresh and dry weights of the plants (g plant-1) obtained with the 100 and 75% field water capacity
were significantly affected by changes in soil moisture treatments for both species, these results may be due to the
(Table 2). The interaction among treatments was significant increment in herb dry weight of these treatments. The
during the two seasons. Total fresh and dry weights of essential oil percentage of Ocimum americanum L. was less

T a b l e 2. Effect of water stress treatments, Ocimum sp. and their interactions on the fresh and dry weights of Ocimum sp. during both
seasons

Water stress Total herb fresh weight Total herb dry weight
treatments (g plant-1) (g plant-1)
Ocimum sp.
(%)
1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season

Ocimum 125 872 794 176 179

basilicum L. 100 2162 2172 432 438
75 2773 2703 554 541
50 1393 1381 279 276
Over all Ocimum basilicum L. 1800 1764 360 359

Ocimum 125 1162 1201 233 240

americanum L. 100 2650 2512 534 551
75 3428 3572 686 730
50 2109 2379 418 427
Over all Ocimum americanum L. 2337 2416 468 487

Over all water stress 125 1017 998 205 210

treatments 100 2406 2342 483 495
75 3101 3138 620 635
50 1751 1880 349 352
LSD at 0.05
Ocimum sp. 37.89 41.23 22.32 18.56
Water stress treatments 50.36 56.2 25.1 19.25
Ocimum sp. x water stress 40.23 45.23 30.12 29.45
292 Kh.A. KHALID

T a b l e 3. Effect of water stress treatments, Ocimum sp. and their interactions on the essential oil content of Ocimum sp. during both
seasons

Water stress Essential oil percentage Total yield of essential oil

treatments (g plant-1)
Ocimum sp.
(%)
1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season

Ocimum 125 0.36 0.32 0.63 0.6

basilicum L. 100 0.24 0.29 1.04 1.2
75 0.33 0.31 1.83 1.68
50 0.38 0.35 1.10 0.97
Over all Ocimum basilicum L. 0.33 0.32 1.15 1.11

Ocimum 125 0.29 0.27 0.68 0.65

americanum L. 100 0.23 0.21 1.23 1.16
75 0.25 0.22 1.72 1.61
50 0.30 0.25 1.25 1.07
Over all Ocimum americanum L. 0.27 0.24 1.22 1.12

Over all water stress 125 0.33 0.30 0.66 0.63

treatments 100 0.24 0.25 1.14 1.18
75 0.29 0.27 1.78 1.65
50 0.34 0.30 1.18 1.02
LSD at 0.05
Ocimum sp. 0.001 0.001 0.01 0.01
Water stress treatments 0.005 0.004 0.03 0.02
Ocimum sp. x water stress 0.008 0.007 0.04 0.03

than that of Ocimum basilicum L., which may be due to gene- ocimene, linalool, camphore, methylchavicol, geraniol,
tic differences between the species (El-Beltagy and Soli- b-caryophyelene germacrene D, a-cadinol (for Ocimum
man, 1983). However, Ocimum americanum L. had a grea- basilicum L.), 1,8-cineol, camphore, farnesene, b-bisabo-
ter content of total essential oil (g plant-1) than Ocimum lene, methyl-chavicol, terpneol and eugenol (for Ocimum
basilicum L. during both seasons. These results may be due americanum L.), while it decreased the constituents of
to the increment in herb dry weight per plant of Ocimum sabenene, b-pinene, limonene, terpinolene, eugenol,
americanum L. compared with Ocimum basilicum L. methyl-eugenol and geranyl iso-butyrate (for Ocimum
Tables 4 and 5 show the effect of soil moisture levels on basilicum L), a-pinene, b-pinene, myrcene, a-terpinene,
the chemical composition of essential oil extracted from limonene, linalool, linalyl acetate, methyl-eugenol, iso-
Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum americanum L. The eugenol and farnesol (for Ocimum americanum L.);
main components were found to be methylchavicol, lina- – 75% of field water capacity treatment increased the com-
lool, 1,8-cineol, and geraniol for Ocimum basilicum L. and ponents of camphene, b-pinene, 1,8-cineol, ocimene, terpi-
eugenol, methyl chavicol, terpneol, and farnesene for Oci- nolene, linalool, camphore, methyl-chavicol, geraniol,
mum americanum L. The lowest components of Ocimum methyl-eugenol, b-caryophyelene, germacrene D, geranyl
basilicum L. were camphene and sabenene with 125%
iso-butyrate (for Ocimum basilicum L), 1,8-cineol,
treatment, camphene with 100 and 75% treatments, and
camphore, farnesene, b-bisabolene, methyl-chavicol,
a-pinene with 50% treatment. The lowest components of
terpneol, and eugenol (for Ocimum americanum L.),
Ocimum americanum L. were myrcene with 125% trea-
however it decreased the constiuents of a-pinene,
tment, b-pinene with 100 and 75% treatments, and a-pinene
sabenene, myrcene, limonene, eugenol and a-cadinol (for
with 50% treatment.
Compared with the constituents obtained from 100% of Ocimum basilicum L), a-pinene, b-pinene, a-terpinene,
field water capacity treatment we can indicate that: limonene, linalool, myrcene, linalyl acetate, methyl-
– 125% of field water capacity treatment increased the eugenol, iso-eugenol and farnesol (for Ocimum
constituents of a-pinene, camphene, myrcene, 1,8-cineol, americanum L.);
 INFLUENCE OF WATER STRESS ON GROWTH OF HERBS 293

T a b l e 4. Effect of water stress treatments on the chemical constituents of essential oil extracted from Ocimum basilicum L. herb during
both seasons

Water stress treatments

Compounds Ocimum basilicum L.

125% 100% 75% 50%
1 a-Pinene 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2
2 Camphene 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3
3 Sabenene 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4
4 b-Pinene 0.5 1.6 1.8 1.0
5 Myrcene 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.2
6 Limonene 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.1
7 1,8-Cineol 9.4 8.7 8.8 9.9
8 Ocimene 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.1
9 Terpinolene 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.1
10 Linalool 33.4 32.5 32.8 35.6
11 Camphore 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.9
12 Methyl-chavicol 35.0 34.0 34.6 34.5
13 Geraniol 5.8 5.1 5.6 6.0
14 Eugenol 1.5 2.7 2.6 1.0
15 Methyl-eugenol 1.5 3.2 3.9 1.0
16 b-Caryophyelene 1.8 1.6 1.8 0.7
17 Germacrene D 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.1
18 Geranyl iso-butyrate 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.0
19 a-Cadinol 1.4 13.0 1.2 0.9

T a b l e 5. Effect of water stress treatments on the chemical constituents of essential oil extracted from Ocimum americanum L. herb
during both seasons

Water stress treatments

Compounds Ocimum americanum L.

125% 100% 75% 50%
1 a-Pinene 1.09 1.27 1.07 0.10
2 b-Pinene 1.21 1.23 0.34 0.25
3 Myrcene 0.20 1.30 0.10 0.15
4 a-Terpinene 1.12 2.30 0.16 0.22
5 Limonene 1.00 1.55 0.12 0.12
6 1,8-Cineol 2.90 2.81 4.10 3.60
7 Camphore 2.00 1.96 2.30 2.20
8 Linalool 1.94 1.97 1.90 2.10
9 Linalyl acetate 1.78 1.85 0.75 0.66
10 Farnesene 10.60 9.74 13.20 12.40
11 b-Bisabolene 4.90 3.75 5.90 5.90
12 Methyl-chavicol 22.90 20.70 24.90 25.60
13 Terpneol 15.70 13.90 14.60 14.00
14 Methyl-eugenol 0.63 3.71 0.90 1.00
15 Eugenol 29.40 26.10 27.65 29.90
16 Iso-eugenol 1.74 3.11 1.14 1.00
17 Farnesol 0.89 2.75 0.87 0.80
 294

T a b l e 6. Effect of water stress treatments, Ocimum sp. and their interactions on the chemical composition of Ocimum sp. during both seasons

Water Total carbohydrates (%) Proline (mm g-1) N (%) Protein (%) P (%) K (%)
stress
Ocimum sp. treatments 1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season 1st season 2nd season
(%)

Ocimum 125 9.53 10.00 6.97 7.27 2.27 2.50 14.19 15.63 0.39 0.44 2.70 2.71
basilicum L. 100 5.13 5.63 3.80 4.10 2.81 2.93 17.57 18.31 0.89 0.85 3.96 3.07
75 6.30 6.80 4.67 5.00 2.51 2.47 15.70 15.43 0.71 0.64 3.04 2.74
50 9.07 9.57 6.13 6.43 2.39 2.35 14.94 14.69 0.64 0.59 2.81 2.69
Over all Ocimum basilicum L. 7.51 8.00 5.40 5.70 2.49 2.60 15.60 16.00 0.66 0.63 3.13 2.80

Ocimum 125 10.70 11.23 8.67 8.97 2.09 2.44 13.10 15.25 0.63 0.58 2.50 2.50
americanum L. 100 5.50 5.97 4.10 4.40 2.72 2.72 17.00 17.00 0.74 0.73 3.29 2.96
75 7.17 7.67 4.20 4.53 3.49 3.57 21.81 22.31 0.84 0.95 3.03 3.22
50 9.77 10.27 6.20 6.50 2.31 2.41 14.43 15.07 0.66 0.79 2.74 2.83
Kh.A. KHALID

Over all Ocimum amer. L. 8.30 8.80 5.80 6.10 2.65 2.79 16.59 17.41 0.72 0.76 2.89 2.88

Over all water 125 10.10 10.60 7.80 8.10 2.18 2.47 13.65 15.44 0.51 0.51 2.60 2.61
stress 100 5.30 5.80 4.00 4.30 2.77 2.83 17.29 17.66 0.82 0.79 3.63 3.02
treatments 75 6.70 7.20 4.40 4.80 3.00 3.02 18.76 18.87 0.78 0.80 3.04 2.98
50 9.40 9.90 6.20 6.50 2.35 2.38 14.69 14.88 0.65 0.69 2.78 2.76
LSD at 0.05
Ocimum sp. 0.26 0.26 0.14 0.14 0.05 0.03 0.52 0.20 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.07
Water stress treatments 0.32 0.31 0.17 0.17 0.06 0.04 0.63 0.24 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.08
Ocimum sp. x water stress 0.52 0.51 0.18 0.28 0.09 0.07 1.03 0.40 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.14
 INFLUENCE OF WATER STRESS ON GROWTH OF HERBS 295

– 50% of field water capacity treatment increased the REFERENCES

components of camphene, sabenene, 1,8-cineol, linalool,
Abdul-Hamid A.F., Kubota F.A., and Morokuma M., 1990.
camphore, methyl-chavicol, geraniol, germacrene D, Photosynthesis, transpiration, dry matter accumulation and
geranyl iso-butyrate (for Ocimum basilicum L), 1,8- yield performance of mungbean plant in response to water
cineol, camphore, linalool, methyl-chavicol, terpneol, stress. J. Fac. Agric., Kyushu Univ., 1-2, 81-92.
farnesene, b-bisabolene and eugenol (for Ocimum Association of Official Agricultural Chemistry (A.O.A.C.), 1970.
americanum L.), while the constituents of a-pinene, Official Methods Analysis, Washington, D.C., USA.
b-pinene, myrcene, limonene, ocimene, terpinolene, Baeck H., Kuenwoo P., Baeck H.W., and Park K.W., 2001.
eugenol, methyl-eugenol, b-caryophyelene, a-cadinol Effect of watering on growth and oil content of sweet basil
(Ocimum americanum L.). Korean J. Hort. Sci. Tech., 19, 1,
(for Ocimum basilicum L.), farnesol, a-pinene, b-pinene,
81-86.
myrcene, a-terpinene, limonene, linalyl acetate and
Baher Z.F., Mirza M., Ghorbanil M., and Rezaii M.Z., 2002.
methyl-eugenol (for Ocimum americanum L.) were The influence of water stress on plant height, herbal and
decreased. essential oil yield and composition in Satueja hortensis L.,
These results are in accordance with those obtained by Flavor and Fragrance J., 17, 275-277.
Simon et al. (1992), and Vina and Murillo (2003). The effect Bates L.S., Waldren R.P., and Teare I.D., 1973. Rapid determi-
of different treatments on essential oil and its constituents nation of free proline of water stress studies. Plant and Soil,
may be due to its effect on enzyme activity and metabolism 39, 205-207.
(Burbott and Loomis, 1969). Blum A. and Ebercon A., 1976. Genotype responses in sorghum
Table 6 shows that total carbohydrate content was to drought stress. III. Free proline accumulation and drought
resistance. Crop Sci., 16, 379-386.
increased with water stress levels of 125 and 50% of field
Burbott A.J. and Loomis D., 1969. Evidence for metablic turnver
water capacity. However, the 100 and 75% field water monoterpene in peppermint. Plant Physiol., 44, 173-179.
capacity treatments caused a decrease in total carbohydrate Castonguay Y. and Markhart A.H., 1991. Leaf gas exchange in
of both species during each season. These findings are in water stress common bean and tepary bean. Crop. Sci.,
accordance with those obtained by Khalid (2001) for Nigella 32(4), 980.
sativa L. (Black cumin) plants and by Hendawy and Khalid, Clevenger J.F.,1928. Apparatus for determination of essential oil.
(2005), for Salvia officinalis L. plants. In the same trend, J. Am. Pharm. Assoc., 17, 346-349.
proline was increased with water stress levels (125 and 50% Cottenie A., Verloo M., Kiekens L., Velghe G., and
of field water capacity) and these results agree with Blum Camerlynck R., 1982. Chemical analysis of plant and soil.
In: Laboratory of Analytical and Agrochemistry, State Univ.
and Ebercon (1976), who indicated that proline is regarded
Ghent Press, Belgium.
as a source of energy, carbon, and nitrogen for recovering Dubois M., Gilles K.A., Hamilton J.K., Roberts P.A., and
tissues, so it increased under water stress levels. Smith F., 1956. Phenol sulphuric acid method for
N, P, K, and protein contents were affected by excessive carbohydrate determination. Annals Chem., 28, 350-359.
water treatment (125%) or drought (50%), which resulted in El-Beltagy A.S. and Soliman M.M., 1993. Effect of growth
the lowest percentage of N, P, K, and protein content. The 75 regulators on rates of recovery water logged tomato plants.
and 100% field water capacity treatments gave the highest Egypt. J. Hort. Sci., 12(2), 155.
content of N, P, K, and protein content for both herbs in both Hendawy S.F. and Khalid Kh.A., 2005. Response of sage (Salvia
seasons (Table 6). These results are confirmed by those of officinalis L.) plants to zinc application under different
salinity levels. J. Appl. Sci. Res., 1(2), 147-155.
Mirsa and Strivastava (2000), for Japanese mint plants,
Husain A., Virmani O.P., Sharma A., Kumara A., and Mirsa
Khalid (2001), for Nigella sativa L. plants, and Hendawy L.N., 1988. Major essential oil bearing plants in India.
and Khalid (2005), for Salvia officinalis L. plants. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
Lucknow, India.
CONCLUSIONS Jackson M.L., 1973. Soil Chemical Analysis. Published by
prentice Hall Indian Private Ltd., M.97, Connght Citrus,
1. Water stress treatments increased essential oil per- New Delhi-1, India.
centage, main constituents of essential oil, proline, and total Khalid Kh.A., 2001. Physiological studies on the growth, develo-
carbohydrate content, pment and chemical composition of Nigella sativa L. plant.
2. Water stress treatment decreased N, P, K, and protein PhD. Thesis, Fac. Agric., Ain -Shams Univ., Cairo, Egypt.
content. Lawrence B.M., Powell R.H., and Peele D.M., 1980.
3. Seventy five percent field water capacity resulted in Physiological studies on essential oil of bearing plants. Proc.
the highest yield of herb and essential oil for both Ocimum 8th Int. Congr. Essential Oils, Fragrance and Flavors,
Cannes, USA.
species.
296 Kh.A. KHALID

Mirsa A. and Strivastava N.K., 2000. Influence of water stress Solinas V. and Deiana S., 1996. Effect of water and nutritional
on Japanese mint. J. Herb, Spices & Med. Plants, 7, 1, 51-58. coditions on the Rosmarinus officinalis L., phenolic fraction
Nunez-Barrious A., 1991. Effect of soil water deficits on the and essential oil yields. Riv. Ital. Eposs., 19, 189-198.
growth and development of dry bean at different stages of USDA, 1999. Soil Taxonomy. Natural resources conservation
growth. Disseration Abstracts Int. B, Sci. and Eng., (c.f. service. Washington Press, D.C., USA.
Field Crop Abstatracts 1992 045-09183).
Viera H.J., Bergamaschi H., Angelocci L.R., and Libardi P.L.,
Sabih F., Abad Farooki A.H., Ansari S.R., and Sharama S.,
1991. Performance of two bean cultivars under two water
1999. Effect of water stress on growth an essential oil
availability regimes. II. Stomatal tesistance to vapour
metabolism in Cymbopogon martinii (Palmrosa) cultivars.
J. Essential Oil Res., 1, 151-157. diffusion, transpiration flux density and water potential in
Simon J.E., Reiss B.D., Joly R.J., and Charles D.J., 1992. Water the plant (in Portugal). Pesquisa Agropeularia Brasileira, 9,
stress induced alternations in essential oil content of sweet 1045-1035.
basil. J. Essential Oil Res., 1, 71-75. Vina A. and Murillo E., 2003. Essential oil composition from
Sirvastava A.K., 1982. Aromatic plants and its products. Farm twelve varieties of basil (Ocimum Spp) grown in Colombia.
Bull. (16), 1-13. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic J. Braz. Chem. Soc., 14(5), 744-749.
Plants, Lucknow, India. Yusuf M., Chowdhury J.U., Wahab M.A., and Begum J.,
Snedecor G.W. and Cochran W.G., 1990. Statistical Methods. 1994. Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh. BCSIR, Dhaka,
Iowa State Coll. Press. Ames, Iowa, U.S. Bangladesh.