Genetic Variability, Performance Analysis and Effect of Planting Material on the Growth and Yield Traits of Shampoo Ginger [Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm]

Background: Plants and humans have coevolved, with agriculture supporting global needs like food, medicine, and resources. Genetics and plant breeding play a key role in improving crop traits and maintaining diversity, while morphological analysis remains important for identifying superior varieties. Zingiber zerumbet is a valuable plant with potential medicinal and industrial uses, requiring proper conservation and cultivation. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate 72 accessions of shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm) to assess their performance and to identify the effect of the status of planting material on the yield and also to analyse the genetic variability of growth and yield characters, with the intention of formulating appropriate breeding techniques to increase its yield potential. Study Design: The research work was conducted in randomized block design (RBD). A crop of 72 accessions was raised using fresh and healthy rhizomes, with three replications and 18 plants per plot, adopting standard agronomic practices. The plants were allowed to grow for nine months and harvested simultaneously. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were carried out in the experimental garden of the Genetics and Plant Breeding Division of Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Kerala, India, during 2023-2025. The experimental plot is located at 75.8895°E longitude and 11.1338°N latitude at an elevation of 50m from MSL. Methodology: Variation within and between the populations was assessed and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. The comparative performance of different accessions of Zingiber zerumbet was evaluated based on seven growth and eleven yield characters by calculating the performance indices. A study was carried out to analyze the variation in yield of the species based on the type of planting materials used, such as mother rhizomes, primary fingers and secondary fingers. Results: The fresh yield per plant with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 34.54% was found to be the highest varying character and the moisture content with a CV of 5.01% was the least variable character. With a cumulative performance index of 23.31, accession number CUS 55 was ranked highest among the 72 Z. zerumbet accessions. Higher yield and growth characters could be observed when primary fingers were used for planting. This study implies that farmers can use primary fingers for the large-scale production of Z. zerumbet for maximum harvest. Conclusion: The findings suggested that superior accessions have significantly higher values for the coefficient of variation of agronomic characters. The presence of statistically significant variability in every trait under study suggested that there is a significant amount of possibility for the selection of superior genotypes. These can be subjected to further breeding programmes so that farmers can have access to genotypes with better agromorphometric characters.