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Keywords
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essential oil, linalool, NGS®, nitrogen, protected cultivation, two-harvest strategy
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Abstract
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Herb production in soilless culture systems (SCSs) requires precise composition of hydroponic nutrient solutions (HNSs)
to optimise growth, yield and quality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of four nutrient solutions having different
ion concentrations on the yield, quality and safety of basil grown in a New Growing System (NGS®) at two harvest times.
The results showed that as ion concentration increased, yield and leaf fresh weight decreased, while total dry matter varied
with harvest time. Lower levels of phosphorus and potassium in the HNS increased nitrate concentration in basil leaves,
with higher nitrogen specifically increasing nitrate levels, and the second harvest showed the highest concentration in
the N12P2K6 (nitrogen: 12 mmol ∙ L−1; phosphorus: 2 mmol ∙ L−1; potassium: 6 mmol ∙ L−1) treatment. This study showed
that SCS was successful in reducing the growth of microbial contamination, with the lowest levels of mould and yeast
contamination detected in nutrient solutions containing N6P4K12. HNS affected the contents of essential oil compounds
such as linalool (the highest amount at the lowest ion concentration) and (E)-α-bergamotene (the highest amount at the
highest ion concentration). In conclusion, the quantity, quality and microbiological contamination of basil grown in NGS®
depend on the HNS used and harvesting time.
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