Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp2 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Integrated biotechnological and agronomic approaches for enhancing essential oil yield in mint (Mentha spp.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14725
Submitted
26 March 2026
Published
20-06-2026

Abstract

Essential oils (EO) derived from mint (Mentha spp.) have high commercial value and are experiencing increasing global demand across the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This review synthesises the recent advances in biotechnological and agronomic strategies for enhancing the EO yield and quality of mint and evaluates the potential of integrating these approaches for sustainable, resilient and high-value production systems. Engineering the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, especially overexpression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), together with menthofuran synthase silencing has been shown to increase the oil yield by 60–78 % in multi-year field experiments while at the same time, minimising the production of unnecessary substances, such as menthofuran and pulegone. Complementary agronomic practices including integrated nutrient management, deficit irrigation (e.g., partial root-zone drying), biochar, mycorrhizae, biostimulants, nano-elicitors and intercropping effectively boost biomass, glandular trichome development and menthol-rich oil composition. Emerging tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and trichome-specific promoters offer precise regulation of biosynthetic genes. Major challenges remain in understanding regulatory networks of EO biosynthesis, developing real-time precision tools for irrigation and nutrition and assessing environmental safety of nanomaterials. Integration of biotechnological advances with optimised agronomic management provides synergistic, field-validated improvements in oil yield and quality of mint, paving the way for sustainable, resilient and high-value production systems.

References

  1. 1. Parrey Z, Islam S, Shah S, Mohammad F. Agronomical strategies to improve growth, physio-biochemistry, yield and quality attributes of mint plants under varied environmental conditions: a review. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2023;23:1489–514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01194-7
  2. 2. Fuchs L, Holland A, Ludlow R, Coates R, Armstrong H, Pickett J, et al. Genetic manipulation of biosynthetic pathways in mint. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:928178. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.928178
  3. 3. Ahmadi H, Morshedloo MR, Emrahi R, Javanmard A, Rasouli F, Maggi F, et al. Introducing three new fruit-scented mints to farmlands: insights on drug yield, essential-oil quality and antioxidant properties. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022;11(5):866. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11050866
  4. 4. Mahmoud SS, Croteau RB. Metabolic engineering of essential oil yield and composition in mint by altering expression of deoxyxylulose phosphate reductoisomerase and menthofuran synthase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98(15):8915–20. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.141237298
  5. 5. Ahmad B, Shabbir A, Jaleel H, Khan MM, Sadiq Y. Efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in modulating photosynthesis, peltate glandular trichomes and essential oil production and quality in Mentha piperita L. Curr Plant Biol. 2018;13:6–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpb.2018.04.002
  6. 6. Elansary HO, Mahmoud EA, El-Ansary DO, Mattar MA. Effects of water stress and modern biostimulants on growth and quality characteristics of mint. Agronomy. 2019;9(11):743. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010006
  7. 7. Dung JKS. Verticillium wilt of mint in the United States of America. Plants (Basel). 2020;9(11):1571. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9111602
  8. 8. Vining KJ, Johnson SR, Ahkami A, Lange I, Parrish AN, Trapp SC, et al. Draft genome sequence of Mentha longifolia and development of resources for mint cultivar improvement. Mol Plant. 2017;10(2):323–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2016.10.018
  9. 9. Yousefian S, Esmaeili F, Lohrasebi T. A comprehensive review of the key characteristics of the genus Mentha, natural compounds and biotechnological approaches for the production of secondary metabolites. Iran J Biotechnol. 2023;21:e3428.
  10. 10. Taheri H. Transcriptional modulation of structural and regulatory genes involved in isoprene biosynthesis and their relevance to oil yield and menthol content in peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) upon MeJA and GA3 treatments. Russ J Plant Physiol. 2019;66:503–8. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443719030142
  11. 11. Antoniewicz MR. A guide to metabolic flux analysis in metabolic engineering: methods, tools and applications. Metab Eng. 2021;63:2–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2020.11.002
  12. 12. Batista DS, Castro KM, Koehler AD, Porto BN, Silva AR, Souza VM, et al. Elevated CO₂ improves growth, modifies anatomy and modulates essential oil qualitative production and gene expression in Lippia alba (Verbenaceae). Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 2017;128(2):357–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-016-1115-1
  13. 13. Lange BM, Mahmoud SS, Wildung MR, Turner GW, Davis EM, Lange I, et al. Improving peppermint essential oil yield and composition by metabolic engineering. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(41):16944–9. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1111558108
  14. 14. Balasubramaniam S, Eswaran SP, Sakthivel A, Subramani M, Gnanajothi K. Genetic engineering and genome remodeling for enhanced production of therapeutic terpenes and essential oils of Lamiaceae. In: Biotechnology, Multiple Omics and Precision Breeding in Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press; 2025:366–88. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003475491-27
  15. 15. Thilakarathne AS, Liu F, Zou Z. Plant signaling hormones and transcription factors: key regulators of plant responses to growth, development and stress. Plants (Basel). 2025;14(7):1070. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071070
  16. 16. Lange BM, Croteau R. Genetic engineering of essential oil production in mint. Curr Opin Plant Biol. 1999;2(2):139–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-5266(99)80028-4
  17. 17. Olofsson JK, Tyler T, Dunning LT, Hjertson M, Rühling Å, Hansen AJ. Morphological and genetic evidence suggest gene flow among native and naturalized mint species. Am J Bot. 2024;111(2):e16280. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16280
  18. 18. Gupta S, Kant K, Kaur N, Jindal P, Satsangi M, Ali A, et al. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.): a menthol-producing crop. In: Essential Oil-Bearing Plants. Cambridge (MA): Academic Press; 2025. p. 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-24860-3.00005-7
  19. 19. Guo X, Hao G, Chen X. CRISPR/Cas technology for improving traits in Mentha spp. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:1014662.
  20. 20. Qamar N, Pandey MM, Vasudevan M, Kumar A, Shasany AK. Glandular trichome specificity of menthol biosynthesis pathway gene promoters from Mentha × piperita. Planta. 2022;256:98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-022-04029-4
  21. 21. Keshavarz H, Modarres-Sanavy SA, Afra M. Organic and chemical fertilizer affected yield and essential oil of two mint species. J Essent Oil Bear Plants. 2018;21:1674–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2018.1497545
  22. 22. Keshavarz H, Sanavy SA. Yield and oil content of mint under different nitrogen fertilizer treatments. Not Bot Horti Agrobot Cluj Napoca. 2018;46(1):92–6. https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb10110221
  23. 23. Ostadi A, Javanmard A, Machiani MA, Morshedloo MR, Nouraein M, Rasouli F, et al. Effect of different fertilizer sources and harvesting time on the growth characteristics, nutrient uptake, essential oil productivity and composition of Mentha × piperita L. Ind Crops Prod. 2020;148:112290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112290
  24. 24. Mousavi-Jangali S, Moghadam H, Kasraie P, Borzou A. Fertilization strategies for peppermint (Mentha × piperita) under irrigation patterns in Varamin, Iran: the role of mycorrhizae depends on chemical phosphorus availability. Agric Res. 2024;14:495–507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-024-00773-z
  25. 25. Keshavarz-Mirzamohammadi H, Tohidi-Moghadam HR, Hosseini SJ. Is there any relationship between agronomic traits, soil properties and essential oil profile of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) treated by fertiliser treatments and irrigation regimes? Ann Appl Biol. 2021;179:264–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12707
  26. 26. Asadi M, Nasiri Y, Maggi F, Rasouli F, Morshedloo MR. Biomass yield and essential oil chemical composition of Mentha × piperita as affected by amino acids and different fertilizer resources. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2023;23:668–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-01073-7
  27. 27. Esetlili BE, Esetlili MT, Emir K, Eroz M. Sustainable agrivoltaic farming: the role of mycorrhiza in promoting mint cultivation and high-quality essential oil production. Sustainability. 2025;17:5516. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125516
  28. 28. Al-Amri SM. Response of growth, essential oil composition, endogenous hormones and microbial activity of Mentha piperita to some organic and biofertilizer agents. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021;28:5435–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.06.094
  29. 29. Aswani J, Pushpa T, Srikantprasad D, Patil C, Biradar I, Gangaraddi V. Influence of biofertilizers and bioformulations on biomass and essential oil yield of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Med Plants. 2020;12:139–44. https://doi.org/10.5958/0975-6892.2020.00018.0
  30. 30. Rahayu M, Rahmawan B, Sakya AT, Setyawati A, Handoyo G, Anggraini R. The effect of biochar and liquid organic fertilizer on Mentha spicata physiological activities. BIO Web Conf. 2025;147:01014. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202515501030
  31. 31. Mumivand H, Izadi Z, Amirizadeh F, Maggi F, Morshedloo MR. Biochar amendment improves growth and the essential oil quality and quantity of peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) grown under wastewater and reduces environmental contamination from wastewater disposal. J Hazard Mater. 2022;446:130674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130674
  32. 32. Asadzadeh M, Ghavam M, Mirzaei R. The effect of irrigation with treated and untreated wastewater on the yield and chemical composition of essential oil of Mentha spicata L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023;30:46175–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25398-7
  33. 33. Chaski C, Giannoulis K, Alexopoulos A, Petropoulos SA. Biostimulant application alleviates the negative effects of deficit irrigation and improves growth performance, essential oil yield and water-use efficiency of mint crop. Agronomy. 2023;13(8):2182. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082182
  34. 34. Akbarzadeh A, Shahnazari A, Ahmadi M, Akbarzadeh M. Partial root zone drying increases peppermint essential oil yield and water productivity. Agric Water Manag. 2022;269:107703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107459
  35. 35. Delfine S, Velikova V, Mastrodonato F. Soil mulching influence on spearmint oil yield, ecophysiological activities and essential-oil content in rainfed environment of southern Italy. Agronomy. 2022;12:1449. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12071521
  36. 36. Dragumilo A, Pejcev R, Božić D, Šarić-Krsmanović M, Vrbničanin S, Rajković M, et al. Impact of synthetic films and organic mulches on yield and quality of Mentha piperita L. essential oil. Ind Crops Prod. 2025;225:120356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.120356
  37. 37. Ilic ZS, Milenkovic L, Tmušić N, Stanojević LP, Stanojević JS, Cvetković D. Essential oils content, composition and antioxidant activity of lemon balm, mint and sweet basil from Serbia. LWT. 2021;152:112210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112210
  38. 38. Lalević D, Ilic ZS, Stanojević LP, Milenković L, Šunić L, Kovač R, et al. Shade-induced effects on essential oil yield, chemical profiling and biological activity in some Lamiaceae plants cultivated in Serbia. Horticulturae. 2023;9:789. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010084
  39. 39. Disciglio G, Stasi A, Tarantino A, Frabboni L. Microclimate modification, evapotranspiration, growth and essential oil yield of six medicinal plants cultivated beneath a dynamic agrivoltaic system in southern Italy. Plants (Basel). 2025;14(3):414. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152428
  40. 40. Ahmad B, Jaleel H, Shabbir A, Khan MM, Sadiq Y. Concomitant application of depolymerized chitosan and GA3 modulates photosynthesis, essential oil and menthol production in peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). Sci Hortic (Amsterdam). 2019;254:102–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.10.031
  41. 41. Singh S, Uddin M, Chishti AZ, Bhat U, Singh SP, Khan MM. Plant-derived smoke water and karrikinolide (KAR₁) enhance physiological activities, essential oil yield and bioactive constituents of Mentha arvensis L. Front Plant Sci. 2023;14:1129130. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1129130
  42. 42. Morshedloo MR, Saeidi S, Zahedi SM, Jahantab E, Ghorbanpour M. Foliar-applied silicon and nano-silicon alter the product quality and defense system in ginger mint (Mentha gracilis R.Br.) under drought stress by inducing essential oil accumulation and antioxidant activity. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr. 2025;25:1913–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-025-02245-x
  43. 43. Khan MM, Khanam N, Uddin M, Mishra R, Khan MN. Nanotized kinetin enhances essential oil yield and active constituents of mint via improvement in physiological attributes. Chemosphere. 2021;283:132447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132447
  44. 44. Aqeel U, Aftab T, Khan MM, Gill SS, Naeem M. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles as catalysts for improved growth, enzymatic activities and essential oil production in Mentha arvensis L. S Afr J Bot. 2024;166:394–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2024.06.044
  45. 45. Kiumarzi F, Morshedloo MR, Zahedi SM, Mumivand H, Behtash F, Hano C, et al. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) alleviate salinity damage and improve phytochemical characteristics of pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.). Plants (Basel). 2022;11:3155. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101384
  46. 46. Milani M, Mohammadi A, Panahirad S, Farhadi H, Labib P, Kulak M, et al. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) enhance salt tolerance in spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) by boosting the antioxidant system and increasing essential oil composition. Plants (Basel). 2024;13:768. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13202934
  47. 47. Kumar D, Kumar R, Singh A, Verma K, Singh K, Kumar A, et al. A novel and economically viable agro-technique for enhancing productivity and resource use efficiency in menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Ind Crops Prod. 2021;162:113233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.113233
  48. 48. Machiani MA, Javanmard A, Morshedloo MR, Maggi F. Evaluation of yield, essential oil content and composition of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) intercropped with faba bean (Vicia faba L.). J Clean Prod. 2018;171:529–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.062
  49. 49. Machiani MA, Javanmard A, Morshedloo MR, Maggi F. Evaluation of competition, essential oil quality and quantity of peppermint intercropped with soybean. Ind Crops Prod. 2018;111:743–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.11.052
  50. 50. Maffei M, Mucciarelli M. Essential oil yield in peppermint/soybean strip intercropping. Field Crops Res. 2003;84:229–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(03)00092-3
  51. 51. Nazem V, Sabzalian MR, Saeidi G, Rahimmalek M. Essential oil yield and composition and secondary metabolites in self- and open-pollinated populations of mint (Mentha spp.). Ind Crops Prod. 2019;140:111634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.12.018
  52. 52. Dehghani Z, Haghighi M, Mozafarian M. Comparison of the effect of Rosa damascena compost, animal manure and chemical fertilizer on growth and biochemical characteristics of mint plant. Biomass Bioenergy. 2025;196:107622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107622
  53. 53. Kasrati A, Jamali CA, Spooner-Hart R, Legendre L, Leach D, Abbad A. Chemical characterization and biological activities of essential oil obtained from mint Timija cultivated under mineral and biological fertilizers. J Anal Methods Chem. 2017;2017:8097895. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6354532
  54. 54. Huang T, Men W, Myanganbayar A, Davaasambuu U. Transcriptome analysis reveals regulatory mechanism of methyl jasmonate-induced monoterpenoid biosynthesis in Mentha arvensis L. Front Plant Sci. 2025;15:1517851. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1517851
  55. 55. Rezaei S, Javanmard A, Sabaghnia N, Morshedloo MR. Exogenous melatonin modulates physiological responses, phytochemical profiles and essential oil production in grapefruit mint under drought stress. Sci Rep. 2025;15:13622. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99281-5
  56. 56. Hosseini SJ, Tahmasebi-Sarvestani Z, Mokhtassi-Bidgoli A, Keshavarz H, Kazemi S, Khalvandi M, et al. Functional quality, antioxidant capacity and essential oil percentage in different mint species affected by salinity stress. Chem Biodivers. 2023;20(4):e202200247. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200247
  57. 57. European Parliament. Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. Off J Eur Union L 106. 2001:1–39.
  58. 58. European Parliament. Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed. Off J Eur Union L 268. 2003:1–23.
  59. 59. Schnettler B, Crisóstomo G, Mills N, Miranda H, Marcos Mora M, Germán Lobos G, Grunert KG. Preferences for sunflower oil produced conventionally, with nanotechnology or genetically modified in the Araucanía Region, Chile. Cienc Investig Agrar. 2013;40(1):17–29. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-16202013000100002
  60. 60. Martin-Laffon J, Kuntz M, Ricroch AE. Worldwide CRISPR patent landscape shows strong geographical biases. Nat Biotechnol. 2019;37:613–20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-019-0138-7

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.