Crescimento in vitro de hortelã-japonesa em função de diferentes concentrações de sais e de número e tipo de explante

Abstract

Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.-Lamiaceae) is an aromatic medicinal plant. The essential plant oil, which is rich in menthol, is used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries. The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of medium strength, type and number of explants on the growth of Mentha arvensis, as well as the in vitro multiplication rate. Shoots were cultured in media at different salt concentrations - medium strength (MS) and different amounts of explants per vial. The number of explants per vial did not result in significant differences in the development of Mentha arvensis and the best multiplication rate was obtained from lateral buds. The apical buds cultured in lower medium strength (MS/2) provided the best growth, while very high medium strength has proved to be toxic to this species, due to the absence of root development and low shoot development. Apical and basal nodal segments showed higher in vitro growth, presenting greater multiplication ratio and increased consecutive subcultures.