Molecular characterization of primitive, elite and exotic ginger genotypes to protect the biowealth of elite ginger accessions

Abstract

Molecular fingerprints o f elite, exotic and primitive ginger genotypes were developed using RAPD and ISSR markers to characterize and protect the accessions. Among the 30 molecular markers studied, 13 could easily discriminate the genotypes. Cluster analysis of data using UPGMA dendrogram placed the ginger genotypes into four separate groups. The grouping of elite genotype with the putative wild types in the dendrogram implies that there is some phylogenetic relationship between the putative wild types and modern cultivars. An exotic type from Japan, resembling the putative types in rhizome features, shared high similarity with the four indigenous putative types.