Field Performance of Disease-Free Plants of Ginger Produced by Tissue Culture and Agronomic, Cytological, and Molecular Characterization of the Morphological Variants

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is an important spice crop valued for its flavored and medical properties. It susceptible to soil-borne diseases, which can cause considerable economic loss growers. In vitro culture feasible the propagation of disease-free ginger plants, but has several disadvantages when producing seed rhizomes that be commercially used, such as long cultivation cycles (usually 2–3 years) occurrence somaclonal variation. this study, dynamic changes in morphological characteristics vitro-propagated plants ‘Wuling’ were evaluated by continuous observation measurement at 30-day intervals, variants screened characterized agronomic, cytological, molecular analysis harvest. Results showed grew rapidly within 120 days after planting, most active growth period was from 60 days. Eight with clear stable differences out approximately 2000 grown field, they could classified into two groups (VT1 VT2) based on tiller number, plant height, leaf color, shape. By flow cytometry chromosome counting, VT1 confirmed diploid, shortest largest number tillers rhizome knobs, smallest diameter size among three types plants. The VT2 mixoploid, consisting diploid tetraploid cells, significantly reduced larger stomatal guard cells/apertures, lower density. SSR detected DNA band profile six eight variants, including one all findings study might contribute commercial production ginger, provide useful germplasm resources future breeding.