High Altitude Research Station, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Pottangi-764 039, Koraput, Orissa.
Ginger (Zingiber of ficinale Rose.) is believed to have originated in South-East Asia probably in India or China. It is grown in almost all the tropical countries of which China, Taiwan, Philippines, Sierra-Leone, Jamaica and Nigeria are important. India produces 1,35,000 tonnes of ginger annually from an estimated area of 53,600 hectares. Rio-de-Janeiro, China and Jamaica among the exotic group and UP, Maran, Karakkal, Ernad Chernad, Kurupamppadi, Nadia, Sleeva local, Narasapattam, Thingpuri, Vengera, Valluvanad, Mananttodi, Tura, Burdwan, Gurubathan, Tinladium, Wynad Kunnamengulam and local types among the indigenous group, are cultivated extensively. Suprabha (PGS-35) and Suruchi (PGS-19) were released for commercial cultivation and V1K3-3 is in pre release multiplication stage among the mutants. One hundred and forty accessions were collected under the auspices of All India Coordinated Spices Improvement Project, Pottangi. Out of these, 124 accessions were evaluated ina phased manner and useful accessions were identified.
