Exploring genetic diversity in Indian ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) through microsatellite markers

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) holds significant value as a rhizomatous spice known for its distinct taste and aroma. India is the worlds' largest producer, exporter, and consumer of ginger. Local names commonly know many ginger cultivars, and since the crop is propagated vegetatively, the chances of mixing are very high. This complicates the maintenance of purity and distinct characteristics of each variety. In the present study, thirty-two ginger genotypes were procured from various regions nationwide and assessed using 49 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) markers to evaluate their genetic diversity patterns. Among the 49 markers, 19 primers were amplified and produced 23 polymorphic bands, resulting in a polymorphism percentage of 52.63%. Additionally, the unweighted pair group method (UPGMA) cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into five distinct clusters, with similarity coefficients ranging from 0.31 to 1.00. This suggests that each genotype exhibits substantial variability. Genotypes Maran and Acc. 581 showed a similarity value 1.00, indicating perfect similarity (100%) in their genetic characteristics. These findings emphasize the critical role of SSR markers in germplasm conservation and highlight the potential for utilizing genetic diversity in breeding programs to develop improved ginger varieties with desirable traits.