Market News Service - International Trade Centre

esidual distillation water from 15 plant
species applied as foliar sprays on
biomass yields, essential oil content, and
essential oil yield of peppermint (Mentha x
piperita 'Black Mitcham') and spearmint
(Mentha spicata 'Native').
The application of salicylic acid at 1000
mg/L increased biomass yields of both
species. Methyl jasmonate at 100 and
1000 mg/L, gibberellic acid at 10 mg/L,
salicylic acid at 10 or 100 mg/L, and
distillation water of seven plant species all
increased the essential oil content of
peppermint, whereas the oil content of
Market News Service
Essential Oil and Oleoresins
spearmint was increased only by
distillation water of one plant species.
'The study demonstrated that the residual
distillation water of some aromatic plant
species may have an effect on crop
species and may be used as a tool for
increasing essential oil content or
essential oil yields of peppermint and
spearmint crops. Further research is
needed to elucidate the effect of these
treatments on essential oil composition
and to verify the effects under field
conditions,' said Zheljazkov.
Source: http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/11030443-using-wastewater-enhancemint-production.html
Mentha oil remains up in futures trade
The prices of mentha oil for the Feburary
contract rose by Rs 13.90, or 1.27 per
cent, to Rs 1,105.50 per kg, with a
business volume of a single lot at the Multi
Commodity Exchange (MCX) since fresh
holdings were created by the traders
tracking the rise in the demand in the spot
market.
The oil for the March contract also moved
up by Rs 12.80, or 1.16 per cent, to Rs
1,112 per kg, with a business turnover of
five lots at the MCX.
Moreover, the pick-up in the demand from
the pharmaceutical units at the spot
market against the reduced supply from
the growing belts also supported the
prices.
Mentha oil is one of the important
essential oils. It is extracted from herb
Mentha arvensis through distillation
process. It is widely used in food and
flavourings
Indias mint belt lies in the countrys
"breadbasket," spanning the states of Uttar
Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh,
Haryana and Bihar. About 80% of the crop
in India comes from Uttar Pradesh
(Rampur, Moradabad, Bareilly, Barabanki
and Badaun) and the balance 20% from
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
India will always play an important role in
world mentha oil market, with a never
ending demand from the cosmetics and
food industry and production restricted to
few countries.