Evaluation Of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Genotypes for Physico-Chemical Properties in Salyan, Nepal

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is an important rhizomatous spice crop with good nutritive and medicinal values. Curcuminoids and essential oil are the important quality parameters affecting the export and industrial utilization of turmeric products, while the economic importance of turmeric in Nepal is well-documented, there is a significant research gap regarding the physico-chemical profiling of specific genotypes. In view of addressing this void, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of different turmeric genotypes to identify those meeting international quality standards at the Ginger Research Program (GRP), Kapurkot, Salyan in April 2024. The research was carried out in a completely randomized design with 11 genotypes, each replicated 3 times. Parameters such as dry recovery percentage, powder recovery percentage, bulk density, moisture content of rhizome, pH content, essential oil, and curcumin content were observed. Result showed that curcumin content, essential oil content, and pH content ranged from 2.81% (KH-2) to 6.07% (Cl 9803); from 5.60% (Cl 0209) to 8.33% (Cl 9803), and from 6.17 (Cl 0209) to 6.50 (Cl 0207 and Cl 1312), respectively. Dry recovery and powder recovery percentages ranged from 13.89% (Cl 9802) to 18.90% (Cl 9805) and from 12.95% (Cl 9802) to 17.94% (Cl 9805), respectively. The highest bulk density was observed in Cl 0201 (1.07 g/cm³), and genotype Cl 9802 (87.05%) had the highest moisture percentage in the rhizome. Overall, the genotype Cl 9803 was identified as the best genotype for production, export and industrial utilization. Moreover, the findings of this study may provide information for selective breeding programs by identifying turmeric genotypes with superior physico-chemical properties.