Application of Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) analysis to Detect influence of Drip-Irrigation Methods on Growth and Essential oil of Mentha piperata and Mentha arvensis Plants

This study was carried out during two successive seasons to study the effect of two drip irrigation systems on the growth and essen-tial oil of both Mentha viridis (spearmint) and Mentha piperita (peppermint). The results indi-cated that sub surface drip irrigation system had a pronounced effect on growth characters (plant height, fresh and dry weight of herb) comparing with surface drip irrigation system. Generally, data revealed that sub surface drip irrigation system increased significantly essential oil per-centage and essential oil yield comparing with surface system. The major components for es-sential oil of spearmint were found to be carvon, menthyl acetate, α-pinene, 1, 8-cineol and limo-nene. Menthol, menthone, menthofuran and menthyl acetate were the main components for essential oil of peppermint.