Micro-propagation and Biochemical Analysis of Spear Mint ( Mentha spicata )

The investigation on "Micropropagation and biochemical analysis of Spear Mint (Mentha spicata)" was carried out during 2008-09 in the department of Agricultural Biotechnology, OUAT, and Bhubaneswar. The objectives were to standardize the protocols for the surface sterilization of explants and micro propagation and biochemical analysis in spear mint (M. spicata). The best surface sterilants for the mint leaf, nodes and inter nodal explants was the treatment, comprising of washing with double distilled water, deeping in the solution of 0.1% bavistin and 0.1% tetracycline for 20 minutes and then in 70% alcohol (0.5 minutes) followed by 0.1 % Mercuric Chloride (5 minutes). In the concentration of 2.5 mg/l 2, 4-D, the weight of callus (0.199g) and callus induction per cent (92.0%) was high, whereas days to callus induction (12) was low in spear mint. The concentration of 2.5mg/l BAP produced maximum number of shoots from embryogenic callus (10), maximum numbers of leaves (38) and less number of days required for shoot regeneration (62). The concentration of 4.0mg/l NAA along with normal MS medium produced maximum number of ischolar_mains (54.0), whereas, 4.0mg/l IAA produced 53.2 ischolar_mains which is less than that of NAA. But the combination of 2.5 mg/l NAA and 2.5 mg/l IAA produced 56 ischolar_mains. The quantity of solvent extracted was 226.2ml. The range of days taken for evaporation of extract was from 20 days to 21 days. The weight of methanol extracted per four gram of sample was 0.0822g. Per cent of oil extracted in spear mint was 2.1%. Tissue culture in spear mint is a viable novel method for rapid rate of multiplication and production of true to the type and disease free planting material within a shorter period of time.