Mentha piperita and Stressful Conditions

Currently, various abiotic stress conditions affect the growth and development of a number of plants, including medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) of economical and pharmaceutical importance. Abiotic pressures such as metal/metalloids (metals), salt, cold, drought, heat, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ozone and water stress are the most influencing abiotic stress factors that limit the yield and quality of sustainable agricultural approaches in general and MAPs in particular. These stresses alter the plants’ morpho-physiological/biochemical and molecular events and result in considerable dysfunctioning of vital processes like growth, photosynthesis, development, respiration and finally yield to a larger extent. Mentha piperita L., commonly called peppermint, is an important MAP from which various by-products of human importance are extracted, however, the growth and development of this important herb are affected by various stressful environments. Very little literature is available on the effects of various stressful conditions on the underlying mechanisms of this important plant. Moreover, the role of various phytohormones for engineering tolerance in this herb via the modulation of various stress markers under stressful conditions has been rarely discussed. Therefore, this chapter highlights the effects of various stressful conditions on a number of physiological and biochemical processes and the role of phytohormones during environmental stresses in peppermint in alleviating the negative impacts of these conditions.