Essential oil composition of Mentha x piperita L. from different environments of north India

The performance of Mentha x piperita L. in terms of essential oil productio n at different altitudes has been evaluated. Culture locations included Bat ote (altitude 1900 m) and Jammu (300 m) of Jammu & Kashmir State, and Palam pur (1290 m) of Himachal Pradesh, in north India. All the sites showed vari able thermal gradients and exhibited greater ecological amplitude. The yiel d of fresh material (> 20 tonnes/ha) and the production of essential oils ( > 60 kg/ha) were satisfactory. All the three environments were found to be adequate for cultivation of peppermint with acceptable amounts of menthol. Compared to oils from Batote and Palampur, oil from Jammu was of superior q uality due to the optimal concentration of menthol (64.0%) and menthyl acet ate (9.2%) and the low amount of menthofuran (trace). Copyright (C) 1999 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Ltd.