Drying and Shade Effects on Spearmint Oil Yields and Composition

'Native' spearmint (Melaka spicata L.) is one of the two most widely grown spearmints in the United States and in other countries. Recent studies demonstrated the feasibility of growing 'Native' spearmint as a cash crop for north central Wyoming. Transportation and energy costs of commercial mint production can be reduced by drying the spearmint in windrows in the field for a few days after harvest and before oil extraction. This method of drying mint has been a common practice in the traditional mint production regions of the world. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the effect of this drying method on the yield and composition of 'Native' spearmint oil. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted in Wyoming to evaluate the effects of drying duration in days after harvest (DAH: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, or 11) and drying conditions (shade and sun) on the yield of essential oil (EO) and on the concentrations of different oil constituents (beta-pinene, myrcene, limonene, eucalyptol, cis-sabinene hydrate, 4-terpineol, cis-dihydro carvone, cis-carveol, carvone, iso-dihydro carveol acetate, beta-bourbonene, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene/transbeta-farnesene, and germacrene D). Neither drying duration nor drying condition had a significant effect on oil yield. The average yield of essential oil was 0.25 g of oil per 100 g of fresh weight. Drying duration and drying conditions had a significant effect on the composition of EOs. The concentrations of myrcene and germacrene-D were higher in the EOs from plants dried under shade (3.2% and 2.4%, respectively) than the EOs from plants dried under direct sun (3% and 2.2%, respectively). The concentration of beta-pinene was higher in plants dried under direct sun than under shade (0.92% vs. 0.88%). Carvone ranged from 51% to 53% in the oil and was higher in EOs from plants dried for 1 and 2 DAH and lower in EOs from plants dried for 7 days. Drying of 'Native' spearmint under direct sun in Wyoming for up to 11 DAH can be used as an effective tool to reduce transportation and energy costs without affecting oil yields.