In vitro morphogenetic capacities, in field performance and essential oils production in Ocimum gratissimum L.

Morphogenetic capacities of Ocimum gratissimum were revealed in vitro from nodal segment-derived shoots cultivated with alpha-naphtalene acetic acid (NAA, 0.54 or 5.37 mu M), or indolebutyric acid (IBA, 2.45 mu M), or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP, 0.44 or 4.44 mu M) or kinetin (Kin, 0.46 or 4.65 mu M). NAA or IBA decreased caulogenesis and slowed down rooting. Both auxins improve growth of the shoots by elongation of the inter-nodes. BAP (4.44 mu M) or Kin (4.65 mu M) led to bushing shoots. Four months old plantlets (10%) were successfully acclimatized in greenhouse, before being cultured in field. Essential oils were analyzed by simple gas chromatography and coupled with the mass spectrometry. Essential oil efficiencies (EO %) were found to be superior to these of the mother plant and thymol, p-cymene, gamma-terpinene and beta-myrcene could be mainly identified in the harvested plants.