In Mentha, presence of menthofuran is desirable trait whereas pulegone is undesirable. CIM-Vishisth is the pulegone-rich variety of Mentha arvensis which accumulates pulegone but lacks menthofuran. Pulegone is the substrate of menthofuran and latter compound is of commercial importance. Conversion of pulegone to menthofuran can be catalysed in single step by the enzyme menthofuran synthase (mfs). The study is being carried out with a view to produce menthofuran in the pulegone-rich M. arvensis variety, CIM Vishisth.

Simultaneously, Variety ‘Gomti’ of Mentha arvensis was transformed with Menthofuran synthase under the Glandular trichome-specific promoter. The internodal explants were transformed and the shoots regenerated. The proliferated shoots will be grown, rooted and screened for transformants.