Summary
A procedure has been standardized for high frequency plant regeneration response from nodal explant cultures of Mentha arvensis Linn. var. piperascens Holmes. Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with IAA or NAA (0.5–2.0 mgl−1) alone, supported axillary shoot elongation while BAP (2.0–3.0 mgl−1) alongwith IAA (1.0 mgl−1) supported multiple shoot production. In vitro-derived shoots readily developed roots when cultured on NAA (1.0 mgl−1) fortified MS medium. Regenerated plantlets were successfully transferred to glasshouse (90–95% survival rate) and ultimately to the field. Among 280 plants transferred to the field a wide range of variation was observed for various agronomic traits i.e. plant height (32.0–92.0 cm), leaf-stem weight ratio (0.53–2.32), herb yield (105.0–870.0 g), oil content (0.32–1.10%) and oil yield (0.66–5.22 ml/plant). In addition, variations were also recorded for four major constituents of the essential oil i.e. menthol (65.2–94.77%), menthone (1.40–20.89%), isomenthone (0.96–5.14%) and menthyl acetate (0.75–8.52%). A positive correlation is found for oil yield with plant height and herb yield, whereas a negative correlation exists between herb yield and oil content. Based on the initial agronomic assessments on individual plant basis, 27 somaclones were selected and further evaluated in a replicated plant to row trial with parent plant CIMAP/Hy-77 as standard check. Somaclones Sc 59 and Sc 179, selected on the basis of higher herb yield in the initial screening, recorded 55.8% and 64.3% increase in oil yield over the control, respectively. Somaclones Sc 93, Sc 114, Sc 121 and Sc 124 that were selected for their better oil content exhibited 47.2%, 50.6%, 57.5% and 48.2% increase in oil yield over the parent variety, respectively. The performance of these clones in evaluation trials is discussed in relation to the possibility of genetic improvement of mints through somaclonal breeding.
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CIMAP Publication No. 1012
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Kukreja, A.K., Dhawan, O.P., Mathur, A.K. et al. Screening and evaluation of agronomically useful somaclonal variations in Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Euphytica 53, 183–191 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023270
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023270