Seed Selection and Propagation

Agenda
1. Seed-Root Selection
1. Why Seed Selection Needed
2. Criteria of Seed Selection
3. Introduction- Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis)
4. Varietal Characteristics
2. Seed-Root Propagation
1. Site selection for Propagation
2. Methods of Root/Stolen Propagation
3. Land Preparation & Planting
4. Irrigation Management & Weed Management
5. Pest and Disease Management
6. Harvesting of Roots/Stolen

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Agenda

1. Seed Selection

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 1.1. Why Seed Selection Needed- Benefits

1. Seed selection is play important role in cultivation, quality of seeds should always be good so that
we may get better production of crops & selection of seed is one of the most effective way to
improve farmer’s yield.
2. Good quality seeds are essential to grow a strong and healthy crop.
3. Seed is an agricultural input on which the foundation of a healthy and quality rich crop depends.
4.  Good crop production depends on the superiority of the seed.
5. While seed selection is mainly aimed at obtaining healthier seeds, it can be used also to maintain
and improve the quality of the crop variety.

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 1.1. Why Seed Selection Needed-Importance

1. Ensures genetic and physical purity of the crops

2. Gives desired plant population
3. Capacity to withstand the adverse conditions
4. Seedlings produced will be more vigorous, fast growing and can resist pest and disease incidence
to certain extent
5. Ensures uniform growth and maturity
6. Development of root system will be more efficient that aids absorption of nutrients efficiently and
result in higher yield.
7. It will respond well to added fertilizer and other inputs.
8. Good quality seeds of improved varieties ensure higher yield at least 10 – 12 %

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 1.2. Criteria of Seed Selection

1. We should select whole seeds and broken or crushed seeds should be avoided.
2. The sowing quality of seeds should be high.
3. They should have high germinating capacity.
4. Seeds should be free from infection of pest and disease.
5. The seeds should not be mixed with seeds of weeds or with other seeds or variety.
6. Seeds should be pest and disease-resistant.
7. The seeds should be purchased from trusted and good shops or should be supplied by good seed
agency (certified seeds).

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 1.3. Introduction Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis)

1. Japanese Mint is a primary source of Menthol. The fresh leaves contain 0.4-6.0 per cent oil. The
main constituents of the oil are menthol (65-75%), Menthone (7-10%) and Menthyl acetate (12-
15%) and terpenes (pipene, limonene and comphene).
2. Mentha arvensis (Japanese mint) is a downy perennial herb spreading by root-stocks which creep
along the ground or just under the surface and root at the nodes. They have rigid branches,
pubescent, 60-90 cm tall.
3. The leaves are lanceolate to oblong, 3.7-10 cm long, sharply toothed, or shortly petiolated and
hariy.
4. Flowers arranged in cyme which are usually sessile or rarely pedunculated.
5. Flowers are purplish, minute. Calyx 2.5-3.0 mm long deltoid acuminate, corolla white to purple, 4-5
mm long. Oil yield -0.5 -1%.

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 1.4. Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis)- Varieties
Koshi:-
1. Developed through half progeny selection
2. Tolerant to leaf spot, rust and powdery-mildew diseases. Early maturing -90-100 days
3. Herb yield-260 q/ha & Oil yield -200-250kg/ha. Oil content-0.75% & Menthol content-75%-80% 
4. This is a recently released variety from CIMAP, Lucknow
5. It has high leaf density, moderately broad and light green leaves, wide and globular plant canopy,
very synchronous growth habit, high biomass.

Gomati:-
1. Developed through selections among seed progeny  
2. Tall with hard light magenta colored stem and broad dark green leaves
3. Better regeneration after first harvest, Oil yield-130 Kg/ha & Oil content-0.6%
4. Menthol-74%, Menthone-12.6%, Iso-menthone-3.7% & Menthyl acetate-2.9%
5. It is an early variety released from CIMAP, Lucknow. It is sturdy, light red in color.
6. Yield is less compared to other varieties. It is less adopted by farmers.

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 1.4. Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis)- Varieties

CIM Kranti:-
1. Developed through half sib selection in var. Gomati
2. This is a Cold tolerant variety.
3. Suitable for commercial cultivation to generate extra income without any additional input and extra
land use for cultivation during both winter as well as summer seasons.
4. Oil Yield-100 kg/ha (winter) and 170-210 kg/ha (summer)
5. Suckers production (250-300 q/ha)        
6. Menthol content-80 %

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 1.4. Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis)- Varieties

CIM Unnati:-
1. A new genotype of menthol mint MASP-19, now christened as CIM-Unnati, has been developed by
CSIR-CIMAP through intensive breeding efforts for improved essential oil yield.
2. The new variety CIM-Unnati consistently recorded higher essential oil yield.
3. The new variety has a potential to produce 185-190 q/ha herbage.
4. Mentha oil yield of 185-190 liter/ha.
5. The variety matures in 100- 110 days after planting.
6. The menthol content in the oil is around 74.3 %.
7. Two important features are distinct leaf morphology and high essential oil yield of this variety.
8. This variety also satisfies several DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) criteria.

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 2. Seed-Root Propagation

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 2.1. Site Selection for Propagation

• The plot should preferably be the best piece of land.

• Site selection for Mentha stolen propagation is most important because the whole process for stolen

production is happens in rainy season and Mentha crop is highly water sensitive.

• Water logging for a longer period may cause root rot or whole crop damage.

• Light sandy loam soils is most suitable for Mentha stolen propagation to avoiding water stagnation.

• The production site must be higher location and having good water drainage facility.

• Heavy or black soils are not suitable for Mentha stolen propagation

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 2.2. Methods of Root/Stolen Propagation

• Direct Method
• After harvesting of Mentha crop, left Mentha roots under the soil.
• Allow them to sprout.
• Once sprout and plant height should be 8-10 cm
• Transplant into prepared field for stolen propagation

• Nursery Method
• After harvesting of Mentha crop remove roots (suckers)
• Cut the roots into small pieces (4-5cm) and spread on grow bed.
• Cover with compost or wood ash or jute bag till sprouting started.
• Transplant into prepared filed when plant height comes 8-10 cm

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 2.3. Land Preparation & Planting

• Around 200 sq.m. plot is required to produce stolons for 1 hectare.

• The field should be ploughed and harrowed thoroughly.
• All the stubble of weeds should be removed before the crop is planted.
• It should be given high level of FYM during land preparation.
• Mature plants of chosen variety brought from a reliable nursery/source
should be planted at 30 X 30cm distance.
• The nursery for the stolons is planted in August.
• By planting live juicy 8 to 10 cm.
• Planting should be done on raised bed to avoid water stagnation.

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 2.4. Irrigation and Weed Management

• Mentha is water susceptible crop.

• The nursery is given frequent irrigation avoiding stagnation of water.

• There must be water drainage facility to avoid water logging.

• Weeds compete with Mentha crop so that remove unnessecery plant from the field.

• Do not apply weedicides in the Mentha filed and use manual weeding.

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 2.5. Integrated Pest Management

Insect:
• Leaf Cutting Caterpillar: Foliar application of (Missile) Emamectin Benzoate 5 SG-10-15gm or (TATA Takumi)
Flubendiamide 20 WG-10-15gm per 15lit water
• Aphid/white fly- Use yellow sticky traps and Foliar application of Rogor 30 EC - 30 ml or Thiomethoxam 5 GR-
5-7 gm or Acephate 30-35 gm or Acetameprid 20 SP– 10-15 gm/15 lit water.
• Red Mites: Foliar application of Sulphur 80 WDG 30-35 gm or (Omite) Propargite 57 EC- 30-35 ml or (Oberon)
Spiromesifen 240 SC- 15-20 ml/ 15 liter water or Foliar spray of Streptomyces sp. 1.5 % LF – 1 lit per acre.
• Application of Neem Oil 300 PPM (0.03%) or 1500 PPM (0.15%Solution) 4-5 ml/liter for control of above
insects in Mentha crop.

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 2.6. Integrated Disease Management

Disease:
• Root Rot:The infested root turns black and pink colored spot is seen on the roots.

• Foliar application of of Dithane M-45- 30-35 gm and or Bavistin 50 WP – 30-35 gm/ 15 liter water or foliar
spray Spotless 2.5 ml per liter water.
• Soil application with irrigation water Trichoderma Veridi 1.5% WP or Bacillus subtilis 1.50% WP- 1-1.5 kg /
Acre for root rot disease management.
• Powdery Mildew: Foliar application of Myclobutanil 10% WP- 10-15 gm or Sulphur 30-40 gm/ 15 liter water
or foliar spray of Ampelomyces quisqualis 2 % WP and 1.5 % LF – 5-7 gm or ml per liter water.
• Nematode:- Soil application of Carbofuran 3%CG- 8-10 kg or Fluopyrum 34.48% SC – 250 to 300 ml or
Pesilomysis lilacinus 1 % WP – 2-4 liter / acre.

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 2.7. Harvesting of Root/Stolen

• Stolons are produced in autumn and are ready for use during the months of January to March.

• To obtain the stolons , the soil is opened manually or mechanically.

• These stolons can be used immediately or within a fortnight or so.

• The seed rate used is 400-450 kg. of stolons per ha. and the spacing varies from 40 to 60 cm.,

depending upon soil fertility and the kind of the intercultural implements used.

• In northern India, planting of Japanese mint is suitable from first week of February to second week of

March.

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