Selenium Nanoparticles Improve Physiological and Phytochemical Properties of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under Drought Stress Conditions

Drought impacts on food security, land degradation and rates of biodiversity loss. Here, we aimed to investigate selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) influenced plant resilience drought using the morphological, physiological, essential oil (EO) quantity quality basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) as proxies. Treatments included irrigation at 100% field capacity (FC100) no stress, 80% FC moderate water stress (FC80) 60% severe (FC60), together with application Se NPs either 0 mg L−1 (control), 50 L−1, or 100 L−1. The highest (257 g m−2) lowest (185 dry matter yields were achieved in nil-stress severe-water-stress conditions, respectively. Dry decreased by 15% 28% under Applying enhanced 14% 13% for treatments, greatest EO content (1.0%) yield (1.9 observed stress. 33% 36% 52% 53%, We identified 21 constituents EO, primary being methyl chavicol (40%–44%), linalool (38–42%), 1,8-cineole (5–6%). concentrations obtained FC80 NPs. proline (17 µg g−1 fresh weight) soluble sugar (6 (FC60) NP treatment. Our results demonstrate that low-concentration increase tolerance improve