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This present work aimed to evaluate the effect of period and age the plants on harvest, dry biomass production, essential oil percentage content and storage period of mint (Mentha arvensis L.) plants. Two experiments were set: the first evaluated the effect of three harvest ages (80, 100 and 120 days) after transplanting, and three ages at the second harvest (60, 75 and 90 days). A randomized blocks design was used, with four replications in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme. In the second experiment, three harvest periods were evaluated - early January, late March and early June. The harvested material was dried at 37°C, the dry biomass of the aerial parts was calculated, the essential oil was extracted in a modified Clevenger instrument and its percentage contents were calculated. Plant age at first harvest did influence essential oil content and dry biomass of the aerial parts in response to plant age at the second harvest. The harvest period in which the essential oil content was higher was in early June. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to verify the influence of different age and types of cuttings in the production of scion of Mentha arvensis L. Four different types of cuttings were evaluated: apical and medium cuttings (from aerial part); tip and medium cuttings (from rhizome part). The different types of cuttings were evaluated at 25 and 40 days of age. The cuttings used had 4-5cm long and covered with Plantmax® substrate to a depth of 2/3. Two rooting periods (25 and 40 days) from the different types of cuttings were evaluated: height, shoots number, aerial and roots dry biomass and percentage of mortality. The cuttings after the rooting period were transplanted to bed and pots. The mortality and the aerial part, roots and rhizome dry biomass were determined 30 days after being cultivated. The results showed that apical cuttings from aerial part at 25 and 40 days after being planted in trays had higher rooting, aerial part development and low mortality. At 25 days the aerial part developed and the scion was ready to be transplanted to field. Thirty days after transplanted apical cuttings from aerial part showed a higher growth, except for rhizome dry biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]