Environmental Effects on Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). I. Effect of Daylength, Photon Flux Density, Night Temperature and Day Temperature on the Yield and Composition of Peppermint Oil

Abstract

Long days (16 h light), high photon flux density (1200 µEm-2 s-1.) and high night temperature (20°C) resulted in the highest oil yield. : Daylength, night temperature, day temperature and photon flux density were important interacting factors determining oil composition. The photosynthate model proposed by Burbott and Loomis (Plant Physiol., 1967, <B.42, 20-8) explained the effect of environmental factors with respect to pulegone, menthone and menthofuran. Factors favouring the maintenance of high levels of photosynthate resulted in high concentrations of menthone and low concentrations of pulegone and menthofuran. The photosynthate model does not explain the effect of environmental factors on several other monoterpenes.