Evaluation of genetic fidelity of in vitro propagated shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith) using DNA based markers

Abstract

Drug yielding potential of shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith) is due to the presence of important phytoconstituent such as Zerumbone, which is currently being explored for its effects on cancer and HIV. Slow multiplication rate, high susceptibility to rhizome rot and leaf spot disease restricted the availability of the wild gingers. Thus, a protocol has been developed for in vitro propagation of Z. zerumbet using sprouted bud explants from rhizome. The explants in MS media with 4 mg/L benzyl adenine, 1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid showed highest percentage of response, that is, 93.8%. The aseptic shoots of Z. zerumbet were formed with 5 multiple shoots on MS media with 3 mg/L benzyl adenine and 1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid and 100 mg/L adenine sulfate. In vitro grown plantlets of Z. zerumbet could be conserved in MS media containing 0.5 mg dm-3 of benzyladenine and 60 mg/L of sucrose subcultured at an interval of eight months. Survival of in vitro conserved plants on multiplication media was 85%. Genetic stability of micropropagated clones were periodically evaluated at an interval of 6 months up to 30 months in culture using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis and genetic uniformity in all regenerants was confirmed. Key words: Shampoo ginger, micropropagation, genetic fidelity, DNA markers.