Identification and Registration of the Novel High-Rhizome-Yielding Variety Bharamputra-1 of Kaempferia galanga L.

Kaempferia galanga is an endangered plant whose recognition as a flavoring agent and perfumery ingredient has increased its demand greatly. Therefore, the present investigation aimed at the identification of high-rhizome-yielding varieties of K. galanga. A total of forty-nine germplasms were collected from different parts of India and planted at CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat experimental farm, during 2013. The two-year evaluation of essential morphological and chemical data was recorded for the selection of superior rhizomes with a high rhizome yield during 2014 and 2015. Subsequently, multi-location field trials were conducted with the selected elite germplasm along with controls using a randomized complete block design, and relevant morphological traits as well as essential oil quality data were recorded for all the lines for three consecutive years during 2016, 2017 and 2018. The essential oil quality was analyzed by using GC/MS. The data obtained were statistically analyzed for stability based on rhizome yield, essential oil yield and days to maturity. A high-rhizome-yielding variety of K. galanga was identified and named Bharamputra-1.Itwas found to be stable in multi-locational trials conducted in Northeast India. The variety showed a mean rhizome yield of 10.01 tones/ha. Stability parameters, namely, βi = 1.13 and σ²di = −0.07 were recorded and found to be superior to those of the other examined varieties. The chemical profiling of the rhizome essential oil of the selected germplasm was also performed using GC/MS, which revealed ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (37.25%), trans-ethyl cinnamate (28.35%), endo-borneol (8.91%), eucalyptol (6.83%), (-)-camphor (3.98%) and 3-carene (3.77%) as the main components. The cultivation of this identified variety could help in the successful commercial cultivation of the crop.