Effect of phosphorus deficiency and seasonal variations on growth and essential oil content of Japanese mint(M. ArvensisL. Var. Piperascens)

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Abstract
In a previous communication from this laboratory it has been indicated that mint plants respond typically to different environmental conditions (day length and temperature) by marked alterations in growth, and synthesis of essential oil (SINGH and SINGH, 1968a (1)). Similar work on M. piperita L. carried out by several workers clearly shows that the mineral nutrition and metabolism of this plant are equally affected by environmental changes (CRANE and STEWARD, 1962 (2) ; RABSON, 1965 (3) ; STEWARD et al. 1959 (4)), and the metabolic consequences which flow from deficiencies of nutrient elements are greatly influenced by these factors, e. g., lack of phosphorus under short days is accompanied by greater accumulation of amides than under long days and, therefore, causes decrease in other soluble constituents, viz. amino acids (CRANE and STEWARD, 1962).