GENETIC RESOURCES AND THEIR EVALUATION IN GINGER

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.) is believed to hav~ originated in South-East
Asia probably in India or China. It is grown in almost all the tropical countries of
which China, Taiwan, Philippines, Sierra-Leone, Jamaica and Nigeria are
important. India produces 1,35,000 tonnes ofginger annually from an estimated
area of 53,600 hectares. Rio-de-Janeiro, China and Jamaica among the exotic
group and UP, Maran, Karakkal, Ernad Chernad, Kurupamppadi, Nadia, Sleeva
la:a~ Narasapattam, Thingpuri, Vengera, VaUuvanad, Mananttodi, Tura, Burdwan,
Gurubathan, Tinladium, Wynad Kunnamengulam and local types among the
/ir.digenous group, are cultivated extensively. Suprabha (PGS-35) and Suruchi
(PGS-19) were released for commercial cultivation and V j{[3 is in pre release
multiplication stage among the mutants. One hundred and forty accessions were
collected under the auspices ofAll India Coordinated Spices Improvement Project,
Pottangi. Out of these, 124 accessions were evaluated ina phased manner and
useful accessions were identified.