A unique interspecific hybrid spearmint clone with growth properties of Mentha arvensis L. and oil qualities of Mentha spicata L

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics 2001-03, Vol.102 (4), p.471-476
• Main Authors: PATRA, N. K, TANVEER, H, KHANUJA, S. P. S, SHASANY, A. K, SINGH, H. P, SINGH, V. R, KUMAR, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; carvone; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Interspecific and intergeneric hybridization, introgressions; Mentha arvensis; Mentha spicata; menthol; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s001220051669

Crossing blocks of Mentha arvensis cv Kalka (menthol mint without carvone) and Mentha spicata cv Neera (carvone mint without menthol) in alternate rows (2:1::Kalka:Neera), and pollination of florets of Kalka with that from Neera, yielded a carvone-rich variant among the open-pollinated seedlings. The variant possesses the hybrid phenotype, including the vigorous M. arvensis growth habit and the synthesis of rich oil aroma supplemented with a menthol tinge (carvone 64%-76% against 58% for the normal carvone mint cv Neera), and thus a novel combination of the essential oil. Chromosome counts and random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis confirmed that this spearmint variant, designated as the variety Neerkalka, is a unique interspecific hybrid (2n=5x=60) of M. arvensis cv Kalka (2n=8x=96) and M. spicata cv Neera (2n=2x=24). Vegetative multiplication of the hybrid was facilitated by its underground sucker-reproducing ability which is otherwise absent in spearmints. The per cent improvement in the variant ranged from 31-97 for herbage yield and 95-317 for oil yield over the standard spearmint varieties (MSS-5, Arka and Neera), with per hectare oil yields of 125.0 kg, 139.0 kg and 65.0 kg, respectively.