Articles
Screening of a Mentha spp. collection for physiology and essential oil content
Article number
1439_12
Pages
89 – 96
Language
English
Abstract
Plants of the genus Mentha spp. are used, for example, for the production of essential oils, which find numerous applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.
Therefore, a selection of locally adapted and high yielding genotypes is important. Mentha spp. offers great potential here due to its numerous species and subspecies.
For this experiment, a Mentha genotype collection consisting of 20 different genotypes was examined at 3 harvest dates.
Growth, physiological reaction and essential oil content were examined both over the course of the day and the year.
For the diurnal course Mentha rotundifolia ‘Apfelminze’, Mentha × piperita officinalis ‘White Mitcham’ and Mentha longifolia var. asiatica ‘Asiatische Minze’ were examined.
Non-invasive phenotyping provided information on plant vitality and physiological response using hyperspectral vegetation indices (VIs). Genotypes were distinguishable via VIs and their dry biomass varied significantly.
There were also significant differences in oil content between the genotypes, as well as between the harvest dates.
Besides cultivars that are commonly used in Germany (Mentha rotundifolia ‘Apfelminze’, Mentha × piperita ‘Fränkische Blaue’ and Mentha × piperita ‘Multimentha’), there are other genotypes rich in essential oil such as Mentha arvensis × spicata ‘Japanische Heilminze’ (up to 5.6 mL 100 g-1 DM) and Mentha arvensis var. piperascens ‘Japanische Tigerölminze’ (up to 5.7 mL 100 g-1 DM). Maximal height until the first and second harvest was shown by the ‘Apfelminze’ with a height of 99 cm (1st harvest) and 50 cm (2nd harvest) respectively.
In summary, it can be concluded that in addition to established cultivars, there are other genotypes that are adapted to the Central European climate to such an extent that they produce high biomass and oil yields.
In addition to the quantity of essential oil, however, there is further need for research in comparing the composition of the essential oils of different genotypes.
Therefore, a selection of locally adapted and high yielding genotypes is important. Mentha spp. offers great potential here due to its numerous species and subspecies.
For this experiment, a Mentha genotype collection consisting of 20 different genotypes was examined at 3 harvest dates.
Growth, physiological reaction and essential oil content were examined both over the course of the day and the year.
For the diurnal course Mentha rotundifolia ‘Apfelminze’, Mentha × piperita officinalis ‘White Mitcham’ and Mentha longifolia var. asiatica ‘Asiatische Minze’ were examined.
Non-invasive phenotyping provided information on plant vitality and physiological response using hyperspectral vegetation indices (VIs). Genotypes were distinguishable via VIs and their dry biomass varied significantly.
There were also significant differences in oil content between the genotypes, as well as between the harvest dates.
Besides cultivars that are commonly used in Germany (Mentha rotundifolia ‘Apfelminze’, Mentha × piperita ‘Fränkische Blaue’ and Mentha × piperita ‘Multimentha’), there are other genotypes rich in essential oil such as Mentha arvensis × spicata ‘Japanische Heilminze’ (up to 5.6 mL 100 g-1 DM) and Mentha arvensis var. piperascens ‘Japanische Tigerölminze’ (up to 5.7 mL 100 g-1 DM). Maximal height until the first and second harvest was shown by the ‘Apfelminze’ with a height of 99 cm (1st harvest) and 50 cm (2nd harvest) respectively.
In summary, it can be concluded that in addition to established cultivars, there are other genotypes that are adapted to the Central European climate to such an extent that they produce high biomass and oil yields.
In addition to the quantity of essential oil, however, there is further need for research in comparing the composition of the essential oils of different genotypes.
Authors
C. Hubert-Schöler, L. Raschka, K. Luhmer, M.D. Moll, R. Pude
Keywords
Lamiaceae, volatile organic compounds, phenotyping, selection, harvest, seasonal changes, diurnal changes
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