Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2001: 3(2): 85-87

Response of mentha (Mentha spicata L.) cultivars to low iron nutrition

Preety Singh; Misra, A; Srivastava, N K; Sharma, S

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, PO: CIMAP, Lucknow - 226 015, India.

Suckers from M. spicata cultivars MSS 5, Arka, and Neera were grown in Hoagland's solution supplemented with 0.00, 0.056, 2.80, and 5.60 mg Fe/litre. Plants grown at 0.00 and 0.056 mg Fe/litre did not survive after 10 days of treatment. Fe deficiency symptoms, such as chlorosis and necrosis particularly in young leaves, were more pronounced in Arka and Neera than in MSS 5. The latter cultivar also recorded the greatest plant height, number of branches, dry weight, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, oil content, and carvone content under Fe deficiency. These parameters decreased with the reduction in Fe supply. The positive correlation between fresh weight and dry matter, dry matter yield and oil content, and oil percentage and carvone content was observed in all cultivars. Fresh herb yield and dry matter was positively correlated with oil percentage and carvone content in MSS 5 only.