Biochemical, physiological and phenotypic variation in Ocimum Basilicum L. cultivars under salt stress conditions.

Background: Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a globally significant medicinal plant of the Lamiaceae family, contains valuable volatile oils, polyphenols, and flavonoids with wide applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. This study evaluated salinity stress responses across 13 basil cultivars, quantifying growth, morphological, and biochemical changes under 90 mM NaCl.