Allelopathic potential, biomass production and essential oil of Mentha x piperita var. citrata (Ehrh.) Briq. in intercropping with chives (Allium schoenoprasum L) and chicory (Cichorium endivia L.)

Abstract

The intercropping with bioactive plants can stimulate the production of active principles in herbs despite still remain several questions about the species to be cultivated and its management, including the knowledge of possible allelopathic effects, damaging the efficiency of the system. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the possible allelopathic effects in vitro of the medicinal species Mentha x piperita var. citrata Ehrh. (Briq.), known as alevante on the germination of lettuce seeds in vitro and to evaluate the influence of the M. x piperita var. citrata intercropping with chicory and chives on biomass production and essential oil yield. The allelopathic potential was evaluate in vitro with five concentrations of the aqueous extract of boiled and unboiled alevante. The intercropping of M. x piperita var. citrata was evaluated with five treatments: M. x piperita var. citrata monocrop and intercropped with chicory and chives. There was no effect of the extract on the germination of lettuce seeds in any of the concentrations and conditions tested. The M. x piperita var. citrata intercropped with chives reached the highest degree of area efficiency, biomass and essential oil yield similar to the monocropping system without changing the essential oil yield and chemical composition.