Source sink relationship, dry matter and starch partitioningin developing ginger rhizomes during different growth stages

Abstract

Source sink relationship, dry matter and starch partitioning, rhizome bulking process in relation to dry matter and starch partitioningin developing rhizomes and growth and gas exchange parameters were studied in three popular varieties of ginger viz., IISRVarada, IISR Mahima and IISR Rejatha. Results revealed thatmaximum tiller production and leaf area accumulation occurredbetween 60 and 120 days after planting (DAP) in all three varieties. Photosynthetic rate and hormone contents (auxin and cytokinin)increased from 90-120 DAP, peaked at 120 DAP and then started declining. Biomass partitioning data revealed that the activebiomass accumulation stage was between 60 and 150 DAP in ginger. The dry matter accumulation pattern in rhizomes alsorevealed that maximum dry matter accumulation in rhizomes also occurred between 60 and 150 DAP in all the three varieties.Maximum starch accumulation in the rhizomes also occurred during the same period. These results suggest that most of therhizome bulking process occurred between 60 and 150 DAP in ginger. Total biomass accumulation, dry matter accumulation andstarch accumulation in rhizomes followed similar trends.