Abstract
Essential oils, synthesized and stored in leaf glandular trichomes, of the Mentha species are valuated commercially as additives for food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Mint production and oil yield is attenuated by both biotic and abiotic stresses. Consequently, there is need for development of cultivars with pest resistance and stable oil quality. Most mint cultivars are natural hybrids vegetatively propagated. Their sterility impairs the success of conventional breeding and to date, the application of irradiation mutation techniques have not resulted in the release of new commercially acceptable cultivars for widespread use. The paper summarizes the state of mint biotechnology by discussing advancements related to in vitro culture and genetic transformation, generation of herbicide resistant plants, and strategies for enhancing disease resistance and essential oil biosynthesis.
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