Effects of different harvesting times on yield and yield components of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) genotypes

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different harvesting times on yield and yield characteristics of some basil genotypes under Erzurum conditions in 2015. In the study, 4 basil genotypes (Erzurum, Osmancık, Yusufeli and Iran) and two different harvesting times (flowering starting and full flowering period) were investigated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement with three replications. Plant height, number of branches, fresh herb yield, dry herb yield, dry leaf yield, dry leaf ratio, essential oil concentration and essential oil yield were investigated in this study. Effect of genotypes was significant for all characteristics. According to the results of this study, the highest plant height, number of branch, fresh herb yield and dry herb yield were obtained from Iranian genotype and the highest dry leaf yield and dry leaf ratio obtained from the genotype Erzurum, the highest essential oil concentration and essential oil yield obtained from the genotype Osmancık. Harvesting times significantly affected all characteristics except for essential oil concentration. The highest plant height, number of branches, fresh herb yield, dry herb yield, dry leaf yield, dry leaf rate, essential oil concentration and essential oil yield were obtained from harvesting time in the full bloom period.