title: Characterization of the harmful effect of olive mill wastewater on spearmint.
abstract: In this study, changes in viability, biomass production, essential oil yield and essential oil composition of Mentha spicata L. (spearmint) exposed to olive mill wastewater (OMW) were investigated. Spearmint cuttings were sensitive to OMW and, after 6h of incubation in raw or diluted OMW, their viability was null. The short contact of raw OMW with mint cuttings caused an irreversible damage in rhizogenesis and shoots development. Roots were more sensitive to phytotoxicity than shoots. In a field essay, spearmint showed a good capability to recover when OMW was spread at 8 l m(-2) at the vegetative phase of growth (45 days after plantation). At this dose, a slight increase of mostly of the mint essential oil constituents was obtained. When the dose applied was 16 l m(-2), phytotoxicity was manifested by a high reduction of biomass and essential oil yield. The essential oil composition was also affected and a disappearance of many of mint essential oil constituents was observed with an increase of 59% for carvone, the major compound of spearmint essential oil. As far as we know, this is the first report on the effect of field application of OMW on an aromatic plant essential oil yield and composition.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology of the Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehrez, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, PO Box 1796 Atlas, Fez, Morocco.
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: El Hassani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zinedine
authors.forename: M Bendriss
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Amraoui
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Errachidi
authors.forename: S Mdaghri
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alaoui
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aissam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merzouki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benlemlih
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D031337:Mentha spicata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010636:Phenols; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride