Microrhizome and minirhizome production in three high yielding cultivars of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is one of the most important medicinal spice plants. Most important production constraint in this crop is the presence of soil borne pathogens which negatively affect the quality and the quantity of the produce. Microrhizome and minirhiozme technologies are the promising technologies to develop pathogen free planting materials in the r hizomatous species including ginger. The present study is aimed to establish an efficient protocol for microrhizome and minirhizome production in ginger for the production of healthy planting material. Among the three experimental trials conducted using different media combinations and different types of culture vessels, medium with high sucrose in culture bottles was observed ideal for in vitro microrhizome production in ginger. Among the three cultivars taken for the study (cvs. Mahima, Rejatha and Varada), cv. Rejatha showed superiority in two trials and cv. Mahima responded more in the field condition. The pathogen free nature of the in vitro microrhizome was confirmed using disc culture method. The microrhizome and minirhizome technology developed in this study holds better promises for large scale production of pathogen free seed rhizomes in ginger.