Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
Resmi Paul and MR Shylaja

Abstract:
Ginger is an important spice used for flavouring foods and food-products. Genetic variability available in ginger is very limited due to lack of variability and absence of natural seed set. As natural variability stands limited, broadening the genetic base through mutagenesis or tissue culture techniques pave way for exploitation of induced variability. In the present study, plantlets of ginger cultivars Maran and Rio-de-Janeiro were produced through four routes viz., callus mediated indirect organogenesis, indirect somatic embryogenesis and in vitro mutagenesis of organogenic as well as embryogenic calli and regenerants were observed for morphological characters at plant out stage and also for a growth period upto three months. Regenerants derived through indirect organogenesis and irradiation of organogenic calli exhibited maximum number of roots, length of roots, number of tillers and length of pseudostem at plant out stage. Plantlets derived through indirect organogenesis, indirect somatic embryogenesis and irradiation of organogenic calli recorded highest plantlet establishment at three months after planting. Regenerants derived through irradiation of organogenic and embryogenic calli recorded highest length of longest leaf at three months after planting. There was no significant difference between regenerants derived through various routes in number of tillers and length of pseudostem at three months after plant out. Irrespective of the various routes of regeneration, there was no significant difference between the regenerants of two cultivars viz., Maran and Rio-de-Janeiro with respect to number of roots produced, length of roots, number of tillers and length of pseudostem at plant out and also on growth parameters for a period of three months. High somaclonal variation observed in regenerants derived through indirect organogenesis and irradiation of organogenic calli should be exploited.