Research Article | Published: 01 December 2011

A Comparative study of five species of Curcuma with special reference to Pseudostem and Rhizome characters

M. K. Febina, V. V. Radhakrishnan and K. V. Mohanan

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 18 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 265-266 | 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2011-AS17GQ | Cite this article

Abstract

Identification of different species of Curcuma based on morphological and anatomical characters is difficult. Under commercial cultivation, the crop is usually harvested before flowering. Variation in number and arrangement of primary and secondary vascular bundles, orientation of endodermal layer, number and shape of curcumin cells and starch grains provide some tools for identification at this level but these are not completely dependable. The present study made it possible to easily identify five important species Curcuma longa L., C. amada Roxb., C. zanthorrhiza Roxb., C. aromatica Salisb. and C. aeruginosa Roxb. based on pseudostem and rhizome characters in the vegetative phase. A simple and easy method for identification of the five species of Curcuma by observing the rhizome pigmentation is reported.

Keywords

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Remashree, A.B. and Indira, B. (2006). Anatomical and histochemical studies on four species of Curcuma. Phytomorphology, 56 (1&2): 1-8

2. Sabu, M. (2006). Zingiberaceaea and Costaceae of South India. Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy, University of Calicut, India

Google Scholar

3. Skornikova, J. and Sabu, M. (2002). The genus Curcuma L. of India: Resume and Future Prospects. In: Perspectives of Biology. A.P. Das (Ed.). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India

4. Skornikova, J., Sabu, M. and Prasanth Kumar, M.G. (2004). Curcuma mutabilis (Zingiberaceae): A new species from South India. Gardens Bull. Singapore, 56: 43-54

Google Scholar

5. Velayudhan, K.C., Muralidharan, V.K., Amalraj, V.A., Gautam, P.L., Mandal, S. and Dinesh Kumar. (1999). Curcuma Genetic Resources. Scientific Monograph No. IV. NBPGR Regional Station, Thrissur, India

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Febina, M.K., Radhakrishnan, V.V. and Mohanan, K.V., 2011. A Comparative study of five species of Curcuma with special reference to Pseudostem and Rhizome characters. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 18(4), pp.265-266. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2011-AS17GQ

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 December 2011

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: