title: Positive correlation between menthol content and in vitro menthol tolerance in Mentha arvensis L. cultivars.
abstract: Menthol is a highly valued monoterpene produced by Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis) as a natural product with wide applications in cosmetics, confectionery, flavours, beverages and therapeutics. Selection of high menthol yielding genotypes is therefore the ultimate objective of all genetic improvement programmes in Mentha arvensis. A positive correlation was observed in the present study between menthol content in oils of evaluated genotypes and the level of tolerance to externally supplied menthol of explants of these genotypes in culture medium. The easy use of this relationship as a selectable biochemical marker opens the practical applicability of large scale in vitro screening of the germplasm, clones and breeders' material for selection of elite genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Division, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow 226 015, India.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shasany
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Khanuja
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D004351:Drug Resistance; D005838:Genotype; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008610:Menthol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008610:Menthol