Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants

Intensive crop production and irrational use of fertilizers agrochemicals have questionable effects on the quality products sustainable water for agricultural purposes. Organic cultivation and/or deficit irrigation are, among others, well appreciated practices a system. In present study, spearmint plants (Mentha spicata L.) were grown in different schemes (conventional versus organic cultivation, full irrigation), plant physiological biochemical attributes examined two harvesting periods. Deficit decreased growth, but increased total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity at second harvest. Spearmint nutrient accumulation was affected by practices; nitrogen potassium sodium elevated full-irrigated plants, while magnesium, phosphorus, copper levels higher deficit-irrigated plants. However, conventional/full-irrigated had height fresh biomass first Essential oil content harvest treated Additionally, growth delayed formation carvone from limonene. The essential oils further evaluated with regard to their bioactivity major vineyard pest Lobesia botrana. Volatile compounds all elicited strong electroantennographic responses female insects antennae, highlighting role carvone, which is constituent (~70%) tested oils. M. also exhibited larvicidal activity L. botrana, suggesting potential incorporation integrated management systems.