INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
BIOLOGY HL
PERSONAL CODE: gpk587
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
CONCENTRATIONS ON CHLOROPHYLL A ON Ocinum basilicum
IN A 100 DAY EXPERIMENT
MAY 2018
, INTRODUCTION
Ocimum basilicum, also known as basil, is an important source of essential oil around the world
(VIEIRA; SIMON, 2000) and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. O. basilicum is a medicinal plant which adapts
better to warmer environments (PEREIRA; MOREIRA, 2011). Therefore this plant is common in equatorial
areas, because its optimum temperature is 25°C to 30°C and it needs direct sunlight (CHANG, 2005). It may
reach 50cm of height and posses relatively green big leaves (PEREIRA; MOREIRA, 2011). The oil is extracted
mostly from them, which are usually rich in linalool (VIEIRA; SIMON, 2000). The oil has many important
properties, but among them it acts as a plant defense and attracts pollinators (PRINS, VIEIRA, FREITAS, 2010),
besides being of great use by humans as well. The synthesis of oil in basil is a complex biochemical process with
many different enzymes that require the chemical compound nitrogen (CLEGG, 2014).
The nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient commonly scarce in the soil (DATE et al, 2000) and it is present in
many metabolites such as ATP, NAD, NADP. These are common to many metabolic activities and biochemical
pathways, for example photosynthesis, cellular respiration and lipid synthesis (CLEGG, 2014). The biomass
increase is related to the increase in the percentage of chlorophyll, which suggests that more photosynthesis
occurs and thus more glucose has been produced (CLEGG, 2014). For this reason, compounds that have
nitrogen, for example ammonium hydroxide, are believed to help in growth and to increase biomass, therefore
being used in many crops (SOUZA et al, 2013). Even though ammonium in its gaseous state is dangerous to
living organisms, its hydroxide form it is not (FERREIRA, 2010). Therefore, ammonium hydroxide as a
fertilizant is being greatly used by companies to increase crop production.
The use of fertilizants in basil production is a great advantage for many companies, taking into account
that the O. basilicum generates over 22 billion dollars per year (FRANÇA, 2000). The leaves are also used in
cooking, for flavoring and seasoning (BLANK et al, 2005). It's lipid is of great importance, because it is used as
an antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and digestive stimulant (MARTINS et al, 2000), besides
controlling blood sugar levels and the blood pressure (MATOS, 2000). Also because of its several properties,
the pharmaceutic and cooking industries grows approximately 22% per year and Brazil contributes to 13.5% of
the world basil production (MORAIS, 2006). Consequently, there is a great urgency to better understand O.
basilicum growth in order to further stimulate basil production.
Even though the basil is produced throughout the world, the scientific articles covering this topic are
scarce. It is known that nutrition, light, soil and others, have a direct effect in medicinal plants (CORRÊA,
JUNIOR et al, 1994). Besides, mineral nutrition influences the biomass production and the active principles
withdrawn from the vegetal extracts (MAPELI et al, 20005). This and the benefits that can be generated for the
society is of importance. Many families in Brazil - mine included - plant basil and use it as natural medicine and
for cooking. However, the basils that my family plants grows too slowly and is not enough for all the members
to cook. Additionally, the leaves are often too small. Many advantages of the O. basilicum are already known, but
what is limited is how to expand its production using nitrogen so that the biomass increase.
RESEARCH QUESTION
How does the percentage of ammonium hydroxide (0.000%, 0.012%, 0.024%, 0.036% and 0.048%)
present in the soil influence in the amount of chlorophyll a that Ocimum basilicum produces in a 100 day
experiment?
1
BIOLOGY HL
PERSONAL CODE: gpk587
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT AMMONIUM HYDROXIDE
CONCENTRATIONS ON CHLOROPHYLL A ON Ocinum basilicum
IN A 100 DAY EXPERIMENT
MAY 2018
, INTRODUCTION
Ocimum basilicum, also known as basil, is an important source of essential oil around the world
(VIEIRA; SIMON, 2000) and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. O. basilicum is a medicinal plant which adapts
better to warmer environments (PEREIRA; MOREIRA, 2011). Therefore this plant is common in equatorial
areas, because its optimum temperature is 25°C to 30°C and it needs direct sunlight (CHANG, 2005). It may
reach 50cm of height and posses relatively green big leaves (PEREIRA; MOREIRA, 2011). The oil is extracted
mostly from them, which are usually rich in linalool (VIEIRA; SIMON, 2000). The oil has many important
properties, but among them it acts as a plant defense and attracts pollinators (PRINS, VIEIRA, FREITAS, 2010),
besides being of great use by humans as well. The synthesis of oil in basil is a complex biochemical process with
many different enzymes that require the chemical compound nitrogen (CLEGG, 2014).
The nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient commonly scarce in the soil (DATE et al, 2000) and it is present in
many metabolites such as ATP, NAD, NADP. These are common to many metabolic activities and biochemical
pathways, for example photosynthesis, cellular respiration and lipid synthesis (CLEGG, 2014). The biomass
increase is related to the increase in the percentage of chlorophyll, which suggests that more photosynthesis
occurs and thus more glucose has been produced (CLEGG, 2014). For this reason, compounds that have
nitrogen, for example ammonium hydroxide, are believed to help in growth and to increase biomass, therefore
being used in many crops (SOUZA et al, 2013). Even though ammonium in its gaseous state is dangerous to
living organisms, its hydroxide form it is not (FERREIRA, 2010). Therefore, ammonium hydroxide as a
fertilizant is being greatly used by companies to increase crop production.
The use of fertilizants in basil production is a great advantage for many companies, taking into account
that the O. basilicum generates over 22 billion dollars per year (FRANÇA, 2000). The leaves are also used in
cooking, for flavoring and seasoning (BLANK et al, 2005). It's lipid is of great importance, because it is used as
an antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and digestive stimulant (MARTINS et al, 2000), besides
controlling blood sugar levels and the blood pressure (MATOS, 2000). Also because of its several properties,
the pharmaceutic and cooking industries grows approximately 22% per year and Brazil contributes to 13.5% of
the world basil production (MORAIS, 2006). Consequently, there is a great urgency to better understand O.
basilicum growth in order to further stimulate basil production.
Even though the basil is produced throughout the world, the scientific articles covering this topic are
scarce. It is known that nutrition, light, soil and others, have a direct effect in medicinal plants (CORRÊA,
JUNIOR et al, 1994). Besides, mineral nutrition influences the biomass production and the active principles
withdrawn from the vegetal extracts (MAPELI et al, 20005). This and the benefits that can be generated for the
society is of importance. Many families in Brazil - mine included - plant basil and use it as natural medicine and
for cooking. However, the basils that my family plants grows too slowly and is not enough for all the members
to cook. Additionally, the leaves are often too small. Many advantages of the O. basilicum are already known, but
what is limited is how to expand its production using nitrogen so that the biomass increase.
RESEARCH QUESTION
How does the percentage of ammonium hydroxide (0.000%, 0.012%, 0.024%, 0.036% and 0.048%)
present in the soil influence in the amount of chlorophyll a that Ocimum basilicum produces in a 100 day
experiment?
1
