Study on phenotypic variation of total phenol and antioxidant capacity among Iranian basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) landraces

Plants، used by human، contain different compounds such as polyphenols. The phenols in food diet are important because of antioxidant and probably anticancer activity. In present research، total phenolic contents (using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay) and antioxidant capacity (using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)) of 31 Iranian basil landraces (Ocimum basilicum L.) were measured using spectrophotometery. Linear relationship between total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity was investigated. The similarity among studied genotypes was calculated by City block similarity coefficient and the classification of genotypes was done by the wards clustering method. Results showed that maximum and minimum total phenolic contents belonged to the landraces of Yazd with 19. 84 mg/g fresh weight and Hamedan with 1. 07 mg/g fresh weight، respectively. Maximum and minimum antioxidant capacity belonged to Birjand landrace with 3. 73 mmol/100g، fresh weight and Shiraz II with 0. 45 mmol/100g fresh weight، respectively. Phenotypic correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenloic content in basil landraces was 0. 59. According to cluster analysis، studied landraces were categorized in 3 clusters. Sanandej III and Shiraz II landraces had maximum distance from each other. It also became clear that genetic relationships among the studied populations did not match by their geographical origin. Basil populations displayed a considerable diversity for studied traits that could be useful for germplasm management and utilization into crop improvement.