Mentha x piperita L. nodal segments cultures and their essential oil production

The aim of the present study was the achievement of sterile shoot cultures from peppermint (Mentha x piperita L. cv. 'Kristinka'), their multiplication and the evaluation of the production of essential oils in in vitro conditions. The study was carried out by culturing the nodal segments both on basal or on media supplemented with different concentrations of growth regulators (2,4-D, kinetin, BAP, ZEA) or elicitors (CoCl2). The growth of nodal segments did not showed differences after subculturing, neither when cultivated on media supplemented with 2,4-D or CoCl2. The supplementation of 0.5 mg L-1 BAP caused an increase in the number of de novo formed shoots. The composition of the essential oils showed remarkable differences, with an enhancement of the percentage of menthofuran after the supplementation of 2,4-D and CoCl2 or of pulegone after application of BAP and ZEA.