Mint plant ‘Kushal’ for late transplanting

Abstract

The present invention was related to the development of a novel, distinct high yielding plant with rapid regeneration ability obtained through screening of the somaclones in a methodical way for fast regeneration in the tissue culture stage itself which was achieved by inventing the plant ‘Kushal’. The plant yield higher herbage with corresponding high essential oil when evaluated with available superior varieties of mint in late planting condition during April when the fields are vacated after the harvest of Rabi crop like wheat, chickpea, coriander etc. Further the suckers required for commercial vegetative planting can be produced even in low land condition as the plant is reasonably tolerant to water logging compared to the best check ‘Kosi’.

Description

[0001]Genus and species of the plant claimed: Mentha arvensis L.[0002]Variety denomination: ‘Kushal’.FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0003]The present invention is related to the development of a novel high yielding plant obtained through a unique method of screening of the somaclones in a methodical way for better regeneration. The selected plant establishes quickly in the field when shoot cuttings are planted much later than the normal planting time / season. The overall essential oil and menthol yield from the said plant is high compared to other existing varieties when planted late through shoot cuttings as transplanted mint. This plant is unique and clearly distinct from all other existing varieties of Mentha arvensis L. The new variety has been named as ‘Kushal’ which can be propagated vegetatively through suckers for commercial cultivation. All the experiment related to the development of the invented plant ‘Kushal’ were conducted at the farm of CIMAP, Lucknow, UP, India.BACKGROU...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The object of the present invention was to develop a novel high menthol producing plant through screening of the somaclones in a methodical way for better regeneration in the tissue culture stage itself which was achieved by inventing the plant ‘Kushal’. The selected plant adapts quickly to the field condition when shoot cuttings are planted late than the normal planting duration. The essential oil yield from the said plant is high coupled with the property of being rich in menthol compared to other existing varieties when planted late from the shoot cuttings. This plant is unique and clearly distinct from all other existing varieties of Mentha arvensis L. The new variety has been named as ‘Kushal’ which can be propagated vegetatively through suckers for commercial cultivation. The suckers required for commercial vegetative planting can be produced even in water logging condition as the plant is tolerant to water logging compared to the best check Kosi.

Problems solved by technology

But the sucker planting of mint during January and February (the normal planting time) interferes into the Rabi season crops like wheat, chickpea, coriander etc having a full grown crop stand at that time to be harvested at the mid to end of April.