Essential oil gland number and ultrastructure during Mentha arvensis leaf ontogeny

Alterations in essential oil gland number, distribution and fine structure, and the oil content in the leaf of Mentha arvensis L. were examined during its growth and senescence. Accumulation of essential oil occurred predomin antly during the rapid leaf expansion phase followed by a similar decline. The oil gland (trichome) number increased upto leaf maturation and declined thereafter. Initially, cuticle remains tightly apposed to the secretory he ad of oil glands but progressively a sub-cuticular space appears to be crea ted for the oil. Considerable enlargement of vacuole with ageing is witness ed, whereas cytoplasm gradually decreases to a thin peripheral layer. Some secretory cells from senescing leaf were found almost empty, having only a few remnant oil droplets.