Biological fertilizers and superabsorbent polymer change biomass and volatile oil composition of Ocimum ciliatum Hornem

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of biofertilizers (nitroxine and bio sulfur), superabsorbent polymer (SAP), and their interactions on plant biomass, essential oil content, and composition of Ocimum ciliatum. Nitrogen and sulfur content of leaves significantly increased in response to applied treatments. Biofertilizers and SAP affected the plant biomass and increased up 32.47% compared with control. Results showed that the essential oil content of O. ciliatum was not influenced by the type of treatments; however, biofertilizers and SAP application changed the relative proportions of essential oil constituents and induced synthesis of new constituents. The major compounds of all oil samples were aromatic compounds represented by methyl chavicol (32.6-67.1%) and oxygenated monoterpenes represented by citral (20.2-37.7%) which is the sum of geranial and neral. Essential oil chemotype was changed from methyl chavicol/citral to methyl chavicol in inoculated plants with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.