RAPD assessment for identification of clonal fidelity of microrhizome induced plants of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cultivars

Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) is a tropical herbaceous plant cultivated as annual. Non-availability of quality planting materials of improved varieties is one of the important production constraints in turmeric. Large number of plants can be produced in vitro through microrhizome technology and it is advisable to check the clonal fidelity of these plants. In the present study microrhizome induction was carried out in three varieties of turmeric viz., Alleppey Supreme, Prabha and Lakadong. Most successful microrhizome induction was observed in the variety Alleppey Supreme in MS medium supplemented with 90gl^-1 sucrose in Growtec culture vessels. The monomorphic pattern of RAPD profiles observed for the microrhizome derived plants in comparison with the mother plant confirmed the clonal fidelity. This recommends that planting material production through microrhizome technology is a safe method for multiplication of true-to-type plants in turmeric even after 30 subculture cycles. This is the first study that evaluates the applicability of RAPD markers in establishing clonal fidelity of turmeric plants raised through microrhizome technology.