Endangered Curcuma caesia Roxb.: Qualitative and quantitative analysis for identification of industrially important elite genotypes

Abstract

Black turmeric (Curcuma caesia Roxb.) of Zingiberaceae family is an industrially important critically endangered herb, found to have a captivating influence in the realm of traditional medicine. Now that this species is enlisted under critically endangered category and the repercussion of its unavailability in the terrestrial flora exempts us from scientifically exploring its potential biochemical constituents in terms of pharmaceutical and other industrial uses. So, in the present study, the industrially important qualitative and quantitative traits of black turmeric (n = 50) from different climatic zones were studied to select elite genotypes with respect to high anthocyanin and essential oil content. The genotype of Koraput was found to yield high anthocyanin content (7.14%) and high leaf oil content (1.25%) while genotype of Deoghati yields high rhizome oil content (2.55%). The quality analysis of essential oil by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy showed the presence of eucalyptol and camphor as major compounds in leaf and rhizome oils respectively. The selected elite genotypes mostly belong to North Western Plateau, North Eastern Ghat, Eastern Ghat High Land, and South Eastern Ghat agroclimatic zones. Further, 5 elite genotypes from 4 different agroclimatic zones were recommended as industrially important high yielding traits (Anthocyanin > 6%, leaf oil ≥ 1.2%, rhizome oil >1.5%, eucalyptol >20%, and camphor >21%.) and found to be most favourable for the cultivation.