DOMESTICATION AND DETERMINATION OF YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS AND ESSENTIAL OIL CO NTENT OF WILD MENTHA SPECIES GROWN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Abstract

To examine the potential yield and the yield components of Mentha species and ecotypes occurring wildly in the Mediteffanean region, seven Mentha species, three M spicata L. ssp. spicata, two M longifoha (L.) Hudson ssp. typhoides var. typhoides and two Mentha xpiperita L. were collected and evaluated. Later, they were grown and the fresh and dry herbage yields, dry leaf yield, essential oil content and yields of leaf were determined. Most of the wild Mentha species had higher essential oil contents than those of pharmacopoeia. The results showed that wild meniha species and ecotypes were valuable material for high herbage yield and oil content.