Optimizing Photoautotrophic Micropropagation Conditions for Ginger

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale), a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is a commonly available spice and medicinal plant. This study aimed to develop an alternative to conventional micropropagation using photomixotrophic micropropagation for ginger. Rootless ginger tissue culture plantlets were initiated in seedling trays grown in a chamber maintained under a 16 h/day photoperiod with 60 μE m-2 s-1 of cool white light from fluorescent lamps at 25 ± 2°C with an air relative humidity of 60 ± 5%. The photoautotrophic micropropagation of ginger was optimized using vermiculite + peat (1:1(v/v)) as substrate combined with MS + 0.5 mg/L NAA + 0.1% Metalaxyl-M·Hymexazol + 80% relative humidity (RH). After 40 days of culture, in-vitro ginger seedlings were successfully bred with a rooting rate of 100.0%. The seedlings could be directly transplanted to the field without the need for domestication and cultivation of conventional tissue culture seedlings.