Application of near-infrared spectroscopy for basil chemical composition analysis

Abstract

The near infrared spectroscopy method investigated the chemical composition of fragrance basil plants (Ocimum basilicum) with green leaf colour, the Stella variety, which is a green culture with a short period of vegetation. The lighting was carried out using 400 W arc sodium mirror lamps (DNaZ 400), with a light flux of 46 thousand. Lm, whose spectrum is predominantly orange-red light (650 nm), is most effective for photosynthesis. The level of illumination when growing basil was 10 thousand and 15 thousand lk. The longitude of the day, taking into account the lighting, was 16 hours. In the above-ground portion of the basil plants, the protein, fiber, lipid, ash and starch content was determined by near infrared spectroscopy on an infrared SpectraStar XT analyzer, model 1400ХТ-3, full scanning range 1400-2600 nm. The increase in illumination stimulated photosynthetic activity and the synthesis of assimilates, achieving, at a certain level of illumination, an equilibrium state between the amount of CO2 absorbed and released. Basil plants have been shown to react differently to different levels of illumination. Using BIC spectroscopy, it was found that with increased illumination, the protein content of basil plants decreased from 23.4% at 10,000 lx to 20.1% at 15,000 lx, and the starch content increased from 30.1% at 10,000 lx to 43.7% at 15,000 lx. The content of basil in plants at different levels of illumination of such indicators as fat, ash and fiber remained at the same level and amounted to 3.06, respectively; 8.51 and 26.4% at 10 thousand lx and 2.80; 8.08 and 26.5% at 15 thousand lux.