Characteristic of menthol forms of mint and its cultivation on Voznesenskaya experimental station of VNIIMK

In article the short history of introduction in crop of menthol mints is given. The modern botanical classification of some menthol interspecific mint hybrids is resulted. Six mint varieties of various species and origin including: M. × piperita; (M. × muelleriana) × M. aquatica; M. × gracilis and M. × verticillata were estimated during 6 years in environmental conditions of the Western Caucasus foothills on Voznesenskaya experimental station of VNIIMK. It is shown that in general, region environmental conditions are suitable for cultivation of various species of mints. The increase precipitation during the vegetative period favorably affects increase in a yield of green weight. The top yield is provided with varieties Vesna and the Radugha - on 7.6 t ha-1 in 1st year, and 13.0 and 12.1 t ha-1 accordingly in 2nd year of vegetation. The increase in temperature against reduction of precipitation leads to increase in 1.5-2.0 times of the essence maintenance in air dry raw materials of mint. The variety Simferopolskaya 200 in favorable conditions of cultivation is capable to accumulate about 5 % of essence and up to 86 % of the general menthol. But this variety had the highest oxidation of essence.