USPP1927P - y-- x x xx - Google Patents

Description

I l April s, 1960 MURRAY Plant Pat. 1,927

MINT PLANT Filed June 8, 1959 INVENTOR. MAW/w r711 Mumr .lower flowers, often attain one-third their full size PLANT Application June 8, 1959, Serial No. 818,987

1 Claim. (Cl. 47-59) This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of mint plant which was initiallyproduced by hybridization between Mentha arvensis L. var. piperascens Erin.

and Mentha crispa L. (Mentha spicata L. var. crispata) and thereafter asexually reproduced from stolons at nurseries' near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Although the variety of Plant Patent No. 1,614 and the variety of concurrently filed co-pending plant application Serial No. 818,986 resulted from the same cross, it will be apparent as the description proceeds that the variety described in thisapplication is distinct from either ofthe other two varieties mentioned.

The new variety is characterized by its erect, mediumto-thickly branching habit-and low growth, the plants generally growing to a height of somewhat less than three feet, often not more than slightly over two feet, under central Washington field conditions. The stems are sturdy and strong with numerous short branches near their upper ends, each of which generally develops into a flower spike. The new variety is hardy under southern Michigan and central Washington conditions. The colors of the plant and flowers are not distinctive and resemble those of the parent varieties when grown under comparable conditions.

The leaves of the new variety'are somewhat broader in relation to their length than are the leaves of Mentha arvensis L. var. piperascens Briq. and are inclined to be decidedly oval at the base. The leaves are serrated similar to the leaves of Mjentha arvensis L. var. piperascens spikes of the variety of co-pending plant patent applica-. tion SerialNo. 818,986. The leaves on the flower spikes are prominent and bract-likewhich, in the case of the before the flowers open.

,Unite States Patent Plant Pat 1,927 Patented Apr. 5, 1960 "ice on upland soil near Mentha, Michigan. Disease conditions were accentuated by interplantings of varieties and hybrids known to be susceptible to these'diseases under the growing conditions employed and the infestation with powdery mildew was insuredby scattering greenhouse 7 grown plants of M entha arvensis L. var. piperascens Briq.

to harmful infestation by powdery mildew as compared with the varieties of Plant Patent No. 1,614. and of copending plant patent application Serial No. 818,986

was particularly noticeable. Similar test procedures as regards powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases-were carried out in central Washington under conditions of ditch irrigation withcomparable results.

The new variety is particularly remarkable for the high total menthol content of its oil as compared with varieties resistant to attack by powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases which are suitable for field cultivation in central Washington and southern Michigan. This is all the more remarkable since one of the parents, Mentha cz'ispa L., is a wild variety, the oil of which contains variety showing the general form of the stems, leaves 1 and flowers, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a flower stem illustrating the arrangement of the branch spikes, flowers and bract-like leaves.

The hybridization leading to the new variety was carried out in the summer of 1951 in southern Michigan. The seed resulting from the hybridization was planted and grown in the spring and summer of- 1952. The new variety was selected from alarge number of other hybrids as being of commercial value because of its erect habit and low growth, its very great resistance to powdery I mildew, its high resistance to leaf spot diseases and for The new variety is not resistant to Verticillium wilt,

Verticilliufit alboatrum, R. & B. var. menthae Nelson,

or to Spearmint rust, frequently identified as Puccinia menthae Pers., but is very highly resistant to powdery 'mildew, Erysiphe cichorazcearum D.C. and to leaf spot diseases, including Cephalosporium Sp., which attack the high total menthol content of its oil as compared with other varieties sufiiciently resistant to these diseases to be grown commercially in central Washington. The new variety was first asexually reproduced in the spring of 1953 in southern Michigan. It has been grown since 1953 by asexual reproduction from stolons, part of the time in central Washington, and part of the time in north central Oregon. It has consistently exhibited the foregoing'characteristics since that time.

I claim:

A. new and distinct variety of mint plant substantially as described, characterized particularly by its erect but low habit of growth, its high degree of resistance to powdery mildew, Erys iphe cichoracearum D.C. and leaf spot diseases, including Cephalosporium sp., which attack No references cited.

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