Metabolic and Morphological Reprogramming in Ocimum basilicum L. Inoculated with a Beneficial Synthetic Community
Date Issued
August 21, 2026
Type
article
Volume
12
Issue
8
Start Page
1
End Page
20
Journal
Abstract
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a popular aromatic and medicinal crop cultivated globally. While its essential oils possess inherent antimicrobial properties, the plant remains highly susceptible to various pathogens. This study investigated the impact of a beneficial synthetic microbial community (SynCom)—composed of eight strains with proven antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting activities—on basil growth, ecophysiology, and metabolic profile in an aeroponic system. Although SynCom inoculation significantly enhanced photochemical efficiency, it did not yield significant gains in total biomass. Instead, inoculated plants exhibited a strategic reallocation of resources toward structural and chemical defenses. This physiological shift was physically manifested as denser plant canopies and lower specific leaf area (SLA). Untargeted metabolomic profiling identified 167 significantly altered metabolites. Notably, SynCom inoculation increased abscisic acid (ABA) turnover and redirected tryptophan metabolism from growth-promoting auxins to defense-related indoles and kynurenine derivatives. Furthermore, inoculation enriched the leaves with essential amino acids and a diverse array of protective secondary metabolites, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. These findings demonstrate that specialized microbial inoculants can induce a transition toward fortified phenotypes
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horticulturae-12-01047.pdf
Size
683.92 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
99e675d03fe45b188983da9c7ac5b6d4
Project(s)
Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) - Missione 4 Componente 2, Investimento 1.4 - D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022