EFFECTS OF POLYBUTENE EMULSION SPRAYS ON THE COMPOSITION OF PEPPERMINT OILS

Abstract

Peppermint is a widely cultivated commercial crop, but the plants are susceptible to several insect and fungal infections. Polybutene emulsion sprays are used as pesticides and in pesticidal formulations and were considered to be potentially useful for control of pests on peppermint. Three polybutene preparations were applied to healthy peppermint plants and the effects of these products on the yield and quality of oil derived from the plants were assessed. The treatments caused premature ageing of the leaves and the quantitative composition of the oils had altered relative to controls, resulting in low quality oil. Some of the pesticide residue codistilled with the peppermint oil. It was shown that preparations containing polybutenes are unsuitable for application to peppermint and should not be applied to crops which are to be extracted by steam distillation.