Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): Botany, Genetic Resource, Cultivation, Conservation, and Stress Factors

Basil or sweet basil is named Ocimum basilicum L. from the Lamiaceae family, which originated from India, and it is also well known as a culinary herb in other countries such as Italy, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Agricultural systems (traditional or alternative agricultural systems) have a different effect on the morphology, yield, and yield components of basil. These agricultural systems include aquaponics and hydroponics systems and organic farming by using organic manure as vermicompost, poultry or cattle manure, biofertilizer, growing techniques, etc., as well as chemical fertilizer. Fertilization, especially organic and chemical fertilizer, combined with minerals, applied in appropriate dose and composition, affects growth, herb weight, and basil inorganic matter content. In this context, the management of the fertilizers is a significant factor to obtain successful basil cultivation and sustainable agriculture. So, the best agricultural system and growing condition should be determined to obtain the maximum yield values in basil. In this chapter, botany, distribution, origin, domestication, spread, genetic resource, collection, conservation, characterization, and evaluation (different agricultural systems, fertilizer application, genetic variability and morphology, and yield properties) will be covered in detail and provide information for basil producers and researchers. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.