IN VITRO APPLICATION OF PHENYLALANINE-INDUCED GROWTH, PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID PRODUCTION IN Ocimum basilicum PLANTS

Abstract

Ocimum basilicum is a medicinal plant known to have many health benefits. One way to propagate this plant is through in-vitro culture. In vitro secondary metabolite production can be increased by adding elicitors such as phenylalanine. This study aims to determine the effect of phenylalanine on the growth and production of secondary metabolites of Ocimum basilicum in vitro. Experiments were conducted with various concentrations of phenylalanine (0, 200, 250, and 300 mg/150 mL) combined with 1.5 mg L⁻¹ Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP). The results showed that although phenylalanine combined with BAP inhibited the growth of Ocimum basilicum plants such as root growth in both the number of â roots and root length, the number of leaves produced, and the height of the plantlets. However, phenylalanine has the potential to increase fresh weight at moderate concentrations and secondary metabolites such as total phenolics although it causes a decrease in total flavonoid content along with increasing phenylalanine concentration. Further investigation is needed to determine the specific cause of this response.