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Study on Japanese Cornmint in Mississippi
Author(s) -
Zheljazkov Valtcho D.,
Cantrell Charles L.,
Astatkie Tess
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2009.0275
Subject(s) - mentha arvensis , menthol , cultivar , menthone , subtropics , crop , essential oil , agronomy , horticulture , biology , botany , chemistry , organic chemistry , fishery
Japanese cornmint ( Mentha canadensis L.) is a subtropical essential oil crop grown in Asia and South America. The essential oil of Japanese cornmint is the source for production of crystal (–)‐menthol, which is an important aromatic agent used in various industries. The United States is a major importer and consumer of (–)‐menthol and de‐mentholized oil. Currently there is no production of Japanese cornmint in the United States. A 2‐yr study was conducted in Mississippi to evaluate the effect of N application rates (0, 80, and 160 kg ha −1 ) and cut (harvest time, with a first cut in July, and a second cut in October) on herbage yields, essential oil content, and composition of two Japanese cornmint genotypes (‘Arvensis 2’ and ‘Arvensis 3’). Both cultivars provided two cuts and comparable herbage and oil yields to literature reports. Generally, N application increased fresh herbage and oil yields relative to the untreated control. Herbage, essential oil, (–)‐menthol, and (–)‐menthone yields were greater from the first cut than from the second for both cultivars. The concentration of (–)‐menthol in the oil of both cultivars was approximately 50% in 2007; however, in 2008 the (–)‐menthol concentration was 67 to 76% in ‘Arvensis 2’ and 73 to 78% in ‘Arvensis 3’. This study demonstrates that Japanese cornmint could be successfully grown in Mississippi and possibly other areas in the southeastern United States with similar environmental conditions.