FEATURES OF THE BIOLOGY OF AN UNCONVENTIONAL SPICY-AROMATIC PLANT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN OCIMUM BASILICUM L.

The article presents data on the study of the seasonal rhythm of development and autecology of a non-traditional for the Urals (Russian Federation) species of spicy-aromatic plants – Ocimum basilicum L. – sweet basil in the conditions of the city of Birsk of the Republic of Bashkortostan (Northern forest-steppe zone of the Southern Urals). The features and duration of the phases of the seasonal rhythm of plant development are described. The growing season is 150–180 days, the seeds ripen in August-September for 40–45 days. Seedlings appear 24–26 days after sowing. Then the plants develop rapidly and after 25–28 days the budding phase begins. The duration of flowering of sweet basil is 40–45 days. The central shoot blooms first on the plant, followed by the flowering branches of the first, second and subsequent orders. It is noted that the opening of flowers on a simple brush of inflorescence begins with the lower whorls and lasts from 12 to 18 days. For central shoots, the maximum flowering occurs during the first decade of flowering, for branches of the first order – during the second and third decades. It is shown that in the conditions of the city of Birsk, in the Republic of Bashkortostan, plants form bushes with a large number of reproductive shoots and flowers. The potential seed productivity is quite high: shoots – 128–148 pieces of ovules; plants – 512–592 pieces, depending on the year of the study. The real seed productivity of shoots is less than the potential by 14-19%, and the real seed productivity of plants is less than the potential by 30-35%. The coefficient of seed productivity of plants is 65-70%, depending on the year of research. Thus, in the conditions of the temperate continental climatic zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Ocimum basilicum manages to go through a full cycle of seasonal development, has a good growth potential, high reproductive capacity and can be recommended for industrial cultivation.