TITLE:
Effects of Growth Regulators on Biomass and the Production of Secondary Metabolites in Peppermint (Mentha pi-perita) Micropropagated in Vitro
AUTHORS:
Maricel Valeria Santoro, Fiorela Nievas, Julio Zygadlo, Walter Giordano, Erika Banchio
KEYWORDS:
Micropropagated Plants; Mentha pi-perita; Growth Regulators; IBA; BAP; Secondary Metabolites; Essential Oils
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.5A,
May
30,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The effects of plant growth regulators on peppermint (Mentha piperita) cultured in vitro were studied for the purpose of
maximizing growth and essential oil production in micropropagated plants. The
basal medium was experimentally supplemented with the auxin
4-indol-3-ylbutyric acid (IBA)
and the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) individually and in combination.
Supplementation with BAP alone resulted in the highest values for root length,
root dry weight, shoot length, and numbers of nodes, leaves, and ramifications.
Treatment with IBA alone or with IBA + BAP resulted in a ~50%
increase in shoot fresh weight. The production of secondary metabolites was affected
only by the addition of cytokinin, which resulted in a ~40% increase in the
total yield of essential oils (EOs). Similar trends were observed for yields of
the major EO components (menthone, menthol, pulegone, and menthofuran). Our
findings demonstrate that the application of growth regulators increases EO
production and biomass concomitantly in an herbaceous species rich in
commercially valuable terpenes.