Mint plant ‘Teton Mint’

Abstract

Mint selection 14-27-89, denominated Teton Mint, is a new Mentha sp. cultivar that produces an essential oil different in composition than commercially grown mint varieties. The essential oil is similar to standard mint oil in components composition but differs in the typical Mentha piperita peppermint oil.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of mint plant, substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly by improving resistance to mint wilt and producing a unique essential oil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The accompanying color Figures show typical, field grown vegetative growth of Teton Mint and depicts the color as nearly as reasonably possible.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates the growth pattern under field management of my new mint plant in accordance with the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the flower spike with capitate flower development at the nodes of the spike. FIG. 2 also illustrates the variance in leaf shape of my new mint plant depending on the location on plant.

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT

(4) My new mint plant improves upon and is distinct from other mint plants in several characteristics, including but not limited to, the following: 1. The ability to produce an essential oil different in composition than typical commercial M. arvensis, but with similar components as Black Mitcham peppermint (M. piperita); 2. Produce more oil on a dry weight basis than currently grown mint varieties; 3. An early spring growth similar to Black Mitcham peppermint but with an earlier maturity for desirable chemical composition of its essential oil; 4. A level of resistance to mint wilt equal to or greater than that of its M. arvensis female parent;

(5) The essential oil extracted from Teton Mint has a composition of components more like that of commercial oil produced by Black Mitcham peppermint (M. piperita) than that of its M. arvensis parent as illustrated in Table 1. However, the ratio of oil components in Teton Mint is different from those of both M. arvensis and M. piperita. The concentration of menthone in oil of Teton Mint is greater than that of M. arvensis and M. piperita. There is only a trace of menthofuran in the oil of Teton Mint and absent in oil of its parent M. arvensis. Menthol is lower in Teton Mint than in its parent and that of commercial M. arvensis and M. piperita. Organoleptically, the oil of Teton Mint is different from that of Black Mitcham and M. arvensis, reflecting the difference in oil component ratios.

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 A Comparison of Teton Mint Essential Oil collected from test plots near Monmouth, Oregon, to that of its M. arvensis parent, Commercial M. arvensis, and Commercial M. piperita Oils. 1/ 08-A20-4 Blanco Black Mitcham Essential Oil Parent Teton Mint Commercial Commercial Components Seedling 2/ Seedling 2/ M. arvensis M. piperita 1-Limonene 4.8 1.9 1.4 1.7 1,8-Cineole 0.0 1.1 0.0 4.9 1-Menthone 55.4 61.7 21.5 19.4 Menthofuran 0.0 1.4 0.0 4.2 Isomenthone 0.7 4.0 2.0 3.1 1-Menthyl Acetate 3.1 1.2 3.7 5.3 1-Menthol 23.3 8.0 67.7 44.6 Pulegone 0.0 0.6 0.0 2.1 The numbers listed in the above table are percentages based upon the analysis of the respective mint oils by gas chromatography. The percentages are determined by calculation of the relative peak areas. 1/ Commercial oils of M. arvensis (Blanco) and M. piperita (Black Mitcham) were samples of what is typically produced by mint growers. 2/ The essential oil of M. arvensis parent seedling (08-A20-4) and Teton Mint were collected from plants growing in test plots in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION OF TETON MINT

(7) This new plant, under greenhouse and field growing conditions, is a bush type plant with lateral branches at each node of the main stems. The height of Teton Mint is equal to or greater than Black Mitcham growing under similar conditions and will vary based on fertilizer, soil quality, and water application, amongst other known factors that affect growth patterns. Secondary and tertiary branching occurs to form a loose growth habit. When Teton Mint is mature and ready for harvest, the main stem at mid-plant (approximately between the eleventh and twelfth node) is 3.1-3.4 mm in width. The secondary stem is 8.7-9.0 mm in width.

(8) Mature leaves at the bottom of the plant are ovate lanceolate as are leaves on secondary branch stems. Leaves on upper mature plants, both main and secondary stems are more lanceolate (FIG. 1). Mid-main stem leaf size at flowering is 23-24 mm in width and 69-82 mm in length. Leaf size on secondary branches at flowering is 8.7-9 mm in width and 17-19 mm in length. Leaf petioles on the main stem leaves are 4.0-5.0 mm in length while petioles on secondary branch stem leaves are 5-6 mm in length. Leaves on the mid-main and lower stem tend to be slightly lobed and irregular denticulate. The main stem leaves have from 16-18 teeth on each side while the secondary branch leaves have 3-5 teeth on each side. The leaf is green in color, with The Fifth Edition Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of 144A in the yellow-green group classification. The leaf has 6-9 lateral veins, more or less in parallel off the main vein that runs from the petiole to the tip of the leaf. The veins are prominent in all leaves of Teton Mint.

(9) The inflorescence is a conspicuous spike with capitate flowers developing at the nodes of the spike stem. The cylindrical spikes are about 15 mm in diameter and range from 200 to 250 mm in length. The capitate flowers are 9-12 mm in width and 6-8 mm in length. The flowers consist of five petals fused into a two lipped corolla. The corolla is light violet in color as illustrated in The Fifth Edition Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 91D in the violet-blue group. The calyx is generally green and is 143C in The Fifth Edition Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, green group. The gynoecium consists of a single pistil with two lobed stigma that is exserted. The androecium consists of four stamens, each with a distinct filament and anther.

(10) While the plant that comprises the present invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover any variation, uses, or adaptation of the invention (particular those induced by cultivation under different environmental conditions) following, in general the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claim.