Unraveling the Modulation of Controlled Salinity Stress on Morphometric Traits, Mineral Profile, and Bioactive Metabolome Equilibrium in Hydroponic Basil

Salinity is a major concern in several ecosystems and has significant impact on global agriculture. To increase the sustainability of horticultural food systems, better management usage saline water soils need to be supported by knowledge crop-specific responses tolerable levels salinity. The aim this work was study effects mild salinity morphological growth development, leaf color, mineral composition, antioxidant activities, phenolic profile sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Plants grew hydroponics were exposed three nutrient solutions (NSs) differing NaCl concentration (either 0, 20, or 40 mM). Inhibitory area, fresh yield, shoot biomass evident starting from lowest concentration, they became more severe wide-ranging at mM, also affecting height root-to-shoot ratio. increased nutritional quality terms activity polyphenols leaves, with reduction macroelements mM NaCl. Moreover, two concentrations specifically modified various acids leaves. Overall, use slightly (20 mM) NS could tolerated hydroponics, strongly ameliorating face relative yield loss. Considering significantly higher accumulation bioactive compounds, our implies that low-salinity can sustainably value health-promoting features