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Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is one of the best known aromatic and medicinal plants. The characterization of essential oil variation is of commercial importance as well as helpful for appropriate use of M. spicata. Thirteen strains of cultivated or spontaneous mints were collected from 10 Moroccan regions and acclimatized for two years in Meknes. Their leaves collected at full flowering were dried for hydrodistillation. Essential oil yields were found to vary from 1.32 % to 5.83 %. Analysis of these oils by GC/MS indicated a large variation in chemical composition among the studied strains of Moroccan M. spicata (9 to 51 compounds). The highest yields characterize the cultivated strains of Agadir (5.83 %), S2 of Larache (4.84 %) and the spontaneous strain S3 of Ifrane (4.17%). The richest strain in number of compounds is S3 of Ifrane with 51 compounds whereas uncultivated S2 from the same region has only 9 compounds. Some strains are rich in carvone such as the cultivated strain of Ouarzazate (65.94%) and the spontaneous S2 of Ifrane (72.3 %). Others are rich in eucalyptol, pulegone or 3-Cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) such as those of Marrakech (21.1 %), Agadir (30.7 %) and S1 of Larache (22.1 %), respectively. The strains of Settat and Ifrane (S1) have high levels of limonene (17.8-18.1%). Keywords: Mentha spicata, Essential oils, Carvone, Eucalyptol, Cluster analysis, GC/MS

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is one of the best known aromatic and medicinal plants. The characterization of essential oil variation is of commercial importance as well as helpful for appropriate use of M. spicata. Thirteen strains of cultivated or spontaneous mints were collected from 10 Moroccan regions and acclimatized for two years in Meknes. Their leaves collected at full flowering were dried for hydrodistillation. Essential oil yields were found to vary from 1.32 % to 5.83 %. Analysis of these oils by GC/MS indicated a large variation in chemical composition among the studied strains of Moroccan M. spicata (9 to 51 compounds). The highest yields characterize the cultivated strains of Agadir (5.83 %), S2 of Larache (4.84 %) and the spontaneous strain S3 of Ifrane (4.17%). The richest strain in number of compounds is S3 of Ifrane with 51 compounds whereas uncultivated S2 from the same region has only 9 compounds. Some strains are rich in carvone such as the cultivated strain of Ouarzazate (65.94%) and the spontaneous S2 of Ifrane (72.3 %). Others are rich in eucalyptol, pulegone or 3-Cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl) such as those of Marrakech (21.1 %), Agadir (30.7 %) and S1 of Larache (22.1 %), respectively. The strains of Settat and Ifrane (S1) have high levels of limonene (17.8-18.1%). Keywords: Mentha spicata, Essential oils, Carvone, Eucalyptol, Cluster analysis, GC/MS

The looper caterpillar, O. obstipata is one of the defoliator species of cultivated mint in Morocco. Its identification and its biology constitute the preliminary step for the development of a program aiming at its integrated management. The larvae were collected from a plot of mint grown in a region of northern central Morocco, and reared in the laboratory. The identification of the species was based on comparing the male aedeagus and the female spermatheca to the reference slides. In this study, the elements of biology and morphological characteristics of the different ecophases of O. obstipata are clarified and discussed. The life cycle of the species, from egg to egg, is completed in 31.3 ± 2.16 days. The emergence occurs linearly in time after the 27th and 28th days of oviposition according the sex. The sex ratio (Male/Female) is 0.88:1. The fecundity of the females is positively correlated with their lifespan. Females have an average fecundity of 210 eggs and a fertility rate of 97%. Adults live on average 22.0 ± 6.27 days. The highest mortality rates occur in the last larval instar and pupa. Keywords: Orthonama obstipata, Biology, Reproduction, Mentha spicata

The looper caterpillar, O. obstipata is one of the defoliator species of cultivated mint in Morocco. Its identification and its biology constitute the preliminary step for the development of a program aiming at its integrated management. The larvae were collected from a plot of mint grown in a region of northern central Morocco, and reared in the laboratory. The identification of the species was based on comparing the male aedeagus and the female spermatheca to the reference slides. In this study, the elements of biology and morphological characteristics of the different ecophases of O. obstipata are clarified and discussed. The life cycle of the species, from egg to egg, is completed in 31.3 ± 2.16 days. The emergence occurs linearly in time after the 27th and 28th days of oviposition according the sex. The sex ratio (Male/Female) is 0.88:1. The fecundity of the females is positively correlated with their lifespan. Females have an average fecundity of 210 eggs and a fertility rate of 97%. Adults live on average 22.0 ± 6.27 days. The highest mortality rates occur in the last larval instar and pupa. Keywords: Orthonama obstipata, Biology, Reproduction, Mentha spicata

Mentha spicata constitue l’une des 4 espèces du genre Mentha cultivées pour, entre autres, la production d’huiles essentielles. Les parcelles de la menthe connaissent l’apparition d’une souche pubescente (Sp.) suite à la germination des graines produite par la souche glabre (Sg.), initialement cultivée dans la région de Meknès. Pour comparer ces deux souches de M. spicata, des analyses chimiques des composés volatils et génétiques ont été entreprises. Les huiles essentielles ont été extraites par hydrodistillation des feuilles sèches et leur composition chimique a été analysée par CPG/SM. Le polymorphisme de l’ADN des deux souches a été caractérisé par l’AFLP (Amplified fragment polymorphism technique). Les rendements en huiles essentielles de Sp. et Sg. sont, respectivement, de l’ordre de 1,61 et 2,32% (v/w). Les nombres de composés chimiques identifiés chez la Sp. et la Sg. sont respectivement de 47 et 37. La souche Sp. se démarque par sa richesse en limonène (7,7%) et gemacrène-D (3,12%) et sa faible teneur en carvone (62,2), comparativement à la souche cultivée (75,6). La souche Sp. est caractérisée par 44 bandes uniques et la Sg. n’en possède que 18.  Mots clés : Mentha spicata, Huiles essentielles, CPG/SM, ADN, AFLP, Polymorphisme, Mentha spicata is one of four species of the genus Mentha cultivated for, among others, the production of essential oils. The mint plots are experiencing the appearance of a pubescent strain (Sp.) following the germination of seeds produced by the hairless strain (Sg.) initially cultivated in the Meknes region. To compare these two strains of M. spicata, chemical and genetic analysis of volatile compounds were undertaken. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation of dry leaves and their chemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS. The DNA polymorphism of the two strains was characterized by AFLP (Amplified fragment polymorphism technique). The essential oil yields of Sp. and Sg. are 1.61 and 2.32% (v/w), respectively. The numbers of chemical compounds identified in the Sp. and Sg. are 47 and 37, respectively. Sp. strain is distinguished by its richness in limonene (7.7%) and gemacrene-D (3.12%) and its low carvone content (62.2) compared to the cultivated strain (75.6). Sp. strain is characterized by 44 unique bands and Sg. has only 18. Keywords: Mentha spicata, Essential oils, CPG / MS, DNA, AFLP, Polymorphism

Mentha spicata constitue l’une des 4 espèces du genre Mentha cultivées pour, entre autres, la production d’huiles essentielles. Les parcelles de la menthe connaissent l’apparition d’une souche pubescente (Sp.) suite à la germination des graines produite par la souche glabre (Sg.), initialement cultivée dans la région de Meknès. Pour comparer ces deux souches de M. spicata, des analyses chimiques des composés volatils et génétiques ont été entreprises. Les huiles essentielles ont été extraites par hydrodistillation des feuilles sèches et leur composition chimique a été analysée par CPG/SM. Le polymorphisme de l’ADN des deux souches a été caractérisé par l’AFLP (Amplified fragment polymorphism technique). Les rendements en huiles essentielles de Sp. et Sg. sont, respectivement, de l’ordre de 1,61 et 2,32% (v/w). Les nombres de composés chimiques identifiés chez la Sp. et la Sg. sont respectivement de 47 et 37. La souche Sp. se démarque par sa richesse en limonène (7,7%) et gemacrène-D (3,12%) et sa faible teneur en carvone (62,2), comparativement à la souche cultivée (75,6). La souche Sp. est caractérisée par 44 bandes uniques et la Sg. n’en possède que 18.  Mots clés : Mentha spicata, Huiles essentielles, CPG/SM, ADN, AFLP, Polymorphisme, Mentha spicata is one of four species of the genus Mentha cultivated for, among others, the production of essential oils. The mint plots are experiencing the appearance of a pubescent strain (Sp.) following the germination of seeds produced by the hairless strain (Sg.) initially cultivated in the Meknes region. To compare these two strains of M. spicata, chemical and genetic analysis of volatile compounds were undertaken. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation of dry leaves and their chemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS. The DNA polymorphism of the two strains was characterized by AFLP (Amplified fragment polymorphism technique). The essential oil yields of Sp. and Sg. are 1.61 and 2.32% (v/w), respectively. The numbers of chemical compounds identified in the Sp. and Sg. are 47 and 37, respectively. Sp. strain is distinguished by its richness in limonene (7.7%) and gemacrene-D (3.12%) and its low carvone content (62.2) compared to the cultivated strain (75.6). Sp. strain is characterized by 44 unique bands and Sg. has only 18. Keywords: Mentha spicata, Essential oils, CPG / MS, DNA, AFLP, Polymorphism

Mentha spicata constitue l’une des 4 espèces du genre Mentha cultivées pour, entre autres, la production d’huiles essentielles. Les parcelles de la menthe connaissent l’apparition d’une souche pubescente (Sp.) suite à la germination des graines produite par la souche glabre (Sg.), initialement cultivée dans la région de Meknès. Pour comparer ces deux souches de M. spicata, des analyses chimiques des composés volatils et génétiques ont été entreprises. Les huiles essentielles ont été extraites par hydrodistillation des feuilles sèches et leur composition chimique a été analysée par CPG/SM. Le polymorphisme de l’ADN des deux souches a été caractérisé par l’AFLP (Amplified fragment polymorphism technique). Les rendements en huiles essentielles de Sp. et Sg. sont, respectivement, de l’ordre de 1,61 et 2,32% (v/w). Les nombres de composés chimiques identifiés chez la Sp. et la Sg. sont respectivement de 47 et 37. La souche Sp. se démarque par sa richesse en limonène (7,7%) et gemacrène-D (3,12%) et sa faible teneur en carvone (62,2), comparativement à la souche cultivée (75,6). La souche Sp. est caractérisée par 44 bandes uniques et la Sg. n’en possède que 18.  Mots clés : Mentha spicata, Huiles essentielles, CPG/SM, ADN, AFLP, Polymorphisme, Mentha spicata is one of four species of the genus Mentha cultivated for, among others, the production of essential oils. The mint plots are experiencing the appearance of a pubescent strain (Sp.) following the germination of seeds produced by the hairless strain (Sg.) initially cultivated in the Meknes region. To compare these two strains of M. spicata, chemical and genetic analysis of volatile compounds were undertaken. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation of dry leaves and their chemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS. The DNA polymorphism of the two strains was characterized by AFLP (Amplified fragment polymorphism technique). The essential oil yields of Sp. and Sg. are 1.61 and 2.32% (v/w), respectively. The numbers of chemical compounds identified in the Sp. and Sg. are 47 and 37, respectively. Sp. strain is distinguished by its richness in limonene (7.7%) and gemacrene-D (3.12%) and its low carvone content (62.2) compared to the cultivated strain (75.6). Sp. strain is characterized by 44 unique bands and Sg. has only 18. Keywords: Mentha spicata, Essential oils, CPG / MS, DNA, AFLP, Polymorphism