Crop wild relatives as a germplasm resource for cultivar improvement in mint (Mentha L.)

Authors: VINING, KELLY - Oregon State University; Hummer, Kim; Bassil, Nahla; LANGE, B - University Of Michigan; Khoury, Colin; CARVER, DAN - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/2020
Publication Date: 8/19/2020
Citation: Vining, K., Hummer, K.E., Bassil, N.V., Lange, B.M., Khoury, C.K., Carver, D. 2020. Crop wild relatives as a germplasm resource for cultivar improvement in mint (Mentha L.). Frontiers in Plant Science. 11:265-279. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.01217.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.01217

Interpretive Summary: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Oregon, conserves preserves and distributes about 450 clones representing 34 taxa, hybrid species advanced breeder selections, and F1 hybrids. Mint crop wild relatives are included in this unique resource. The majority of mint accessions and hybrids in this collection were initially donated to the USDA in the 1970s by the A.M. Todd Company, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Other representatives of diverse mint taxa and crop wild relatives have since been obtained from collaborators in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Vietnam and the Czech Republic. These mints have been evaluated for cytology, oil components, Verticillium resistance, and key morphological characters. Pressed voucher specimens have been prepared for morphological identity verification. An initial set of microsatellite markers have been developed to determine clonal identity and assess genetic diversity. Evaluation and characterization includes essential oil content, disease resistance, flowering, and other traits for potential breeding use. These accessions can be a source for parental genes for enhancement efforts to produce hybrid lines, or for breeding the next generation of cultivars for agricultural planting. Propagules of mint are available for distribution to international researchers as stem cuttings, rhizome cuttings, or seed, which can be requested through the GRIN-Global database of the US National Plant Germplasm System, subject to international treaty and quarantine regulations.

Technical Abstract: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Oregon, conserves preserves and distributes about 450 clones representing 34 taxa, hybrid species advanced breeder selections, and F1 hybrids. Mint crop wild relatives are included in this unique resource. The majority of mint accessions and hybrids in this collection were initially donated to the USDA in the 1970s by the A.M. Todd Company, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Other representatives of diverse mint taxa and crop wild relatives have since been obtained from collaborators in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Vietnam and the Czech Republic. These mints have been evaluated for cytology, oil components, Verticillium resistance, and key morphological characters. Pressed voucher specimens have been prepared for morphological identity verification. An initial set of microsatellite markers have been developed to determine clonal identity and assess genetic diversity. Evaluation and characterization includes essential oil content, disease resistance, flowering, and other traits for potential breeding use. These accessions can be a source for parental genes for enhancement efforts to produce hybrid lines, or for breeding the next generation of cultivars for agricultural planting. Propagules of Mentha are available for distribution to international researchers as stem cuttings, rhizome cuttings, or seed, which can be requested through the GRIN-Global database of the US National Plant Germplasm System, subject to international treaty and quarantine regulations.