Advances in Research

A field experiment on Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) was conducted to study and evaluate different germplasms for growth, yield and quality characters under New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal at Instructional Farm, Jaguli, Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal during 2013-14 and 2014-15. The design adopted was Randomised Block Design (RBD) having three replications with seven germplasms namely Rajendra Sonia, Alleppy Supreme, Roma, Pratibha, Kedaram, Rashmi and Midnapur local as check. Among seven germplasms evaluated, the genotype Pratibha was found superior in terms of maximum plant height (100.93 cm), highest number of primary fingers (24.0), highest value for the trait weight of primary fingers (204.10 g) as well as secondary fingers (60.23 g), maximum yield/ plant (369.9 g) and maximum yield (25 ton/ha). Minimum plant height (82.60 cm) and lowest number of primary fingers (9.3) were recorded in case of Midnapur local. Maximum leaf length was recorded in Roma (52.29 cm). In respect of number of mother rhizome/plant, Rajendra Sonia recorded the highest quantity (1.98 nos.) whereas Kedaram recorded the lowest (1.42 nos.). Kedaram also produced minimum trait weight of secondary fingers (33.89 g). In qualitative character, the curcumin percentage was recorded highest with germplasm Alleppy Supreme (5.2%) followed by Rajendra Sonia (4.1%) and it was minimum in Kedaram (3.4%). The germplasms Pratibha and Alleppy supreme recorded with highest oleoresin (11.9%) and  essential oil (7.0%) content, respectively.