Apresenta

1
PROPAGATION, EX SITU CONSERVATION AND
CHARACTERIZATION OF MENTHA CERVINA AND MENTHA
PULEGIUM
Delgado-Sousa,F.1 Rosa, C. Sousa,T.
AmaroSilva,,C.1 Oliveira,Mª R.1 1Escola
Superior Agrária de Castelo Branco Quinta Sra de
Mércules Apartado 119 6001-909 Castelo Branco
fdelgado_at_esa.ipcb.pt
Species Characterization and Regional Interess
The ecotypes in study of Mentha genera, from the
Labiteae family, are either spontaneous or
cultivated in the Portuguese region of Beira
Interior, by their importance as aromatic,
culinary and medicinal herbs.
Objectives
?Study the best propagation method of Mentha
cervina and Mentha pulegium ?Morphological
characterization to identify correctelly the
accessements
Material and Methods
Vegetative Propagation Assays
Germination tests
Morphological Characterization
Terminal cuttings of Mentha cervina and Mentha
pulegium Growth regulator IBA 0,5 Turf and
perlite (21) The experimental design was
completely randomizedtwo species two treatments
(T, IBA) four replications
100 seeds of Mentha pulegium (3 months old), in
4 layers of wash filter paper Conditons 16h/25ºC
day and 8h/20ºC nigth
Colour chart (RHS-2001) Morphological descriptors
elaborated in Program AGRO Nº 34
Germination percentage is based on the emergency
of the radicules
Results
Vegetative Propagation
Germination
Morphological Characterization
n
Ecotype Mentha pulegium Seed size(mm) 0,6 Seed
colour Orange grey Number of seeds per g
978 Germination 66
Root
Figure 1- Root percentage and precocity,
according to the vegetative propagation method
used
Conclusions
The results show that the most efficient mean of
propagation was the vegetative one. This further
suggests that, in the future, this method of
propagation will be of the utmost importance in
the production, preservation and conservation of
the above mentioned species. According to
other works in Portugal, we didnt find seeds in
Mentha cervina, whose results are only in
vegetative propagation. A
characterization/demonstration field was
established with the plants propagated in
autumn/winter 2002. The plants were
morphologically characterized so as to identify
and to correctly classify botanically, each
specie (considering that they have different
origins in the Beira Interior region). In this
project we are working with other species of AMP,
until 2004.The staff pretends to implement
in-situ and ex-situ conservation inserting plants
in original places of native flora and establish
a tematic Botanic Garden at ESACB, to contribute
to sustainable development, environmental
education and awareness of AMP diversity.
Figure 2- Phenological evolution, from March to
July 2002
References
Franco, J. A. 1984. Nova Flora de Portugal
(Continente e Açores). Volume II.
Clethraceae-Compositae. Sociedade Astória, Lda.
Lisboa.pp 172-185 Mickey, M. King, C.2002. The
Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical
Terms.Cambridge University Press.United
Kingdom Rosa, C.2003.Plantas Aromáticas e
Medicinais da Beira Interior-Propagação,
Conservação e Caracterização.Relatório de Fim de
Curso de Engª de Ciências Agrárias-Ramo Agrícola.
ESA-IPCB.Castelo Branco Sousa, T.2003.Ensaios de
Técnicas Experimentais de Germinação de Sementes
para a Conservação ex-situ de Plantas Aromáticas
e Medicinais. Relatório de Fim de Curso de Engª
de Ciências Agrárias-Ramo Agrícola.
ESA-IPCB.Castelo Branco
Acknowledgments
This experiment was carried out on behaf of
Program Agro nº 34 Etnobotany, the use and
management of aromatical and medicinal plants and
their sustainable utilization as a contribution
to the improvement of rural areas, in Escola
Superior Agrária (School of Agriculture of the
Polytechinc Institute), Castelo Branco Portugal.