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Title: PRODUCING BACTERIAL WILT-FREE GINGER IN GREENHOUSE CULTURE

Author
item HEPPERLY, PAUL - RODALE INSTITUTE
item Zee, Francis
item Kai, Russell
item Arakawa, Claire
item MEISNER, MARK - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
item KRARKY, BERNARD - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, CTA
item Hamamoto, Kert
item SATO, DWIGHT - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII

Submitted to: Extension Service Bulletins
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2004
Publication Date: 6/20/2004
Citation: Hepperly, P., Zee, F.T., Kai, R.M., Arakawa, C.N., Meisner, M., Krarky, B., Hamamoto, K.M., Sato, D. 2004. Producing bacterial wilt-free ginger in greenhouse culture. Extension Service Bulletins. 6 pgs.

Interpretive Summary: High yield of ginger rhizomes free from bacterial wilt disease, Ralstonia solanacearum Smith (Yabuuchi), can be achieved in a greenhouse production system using clean seed rhizomes from in vitro culture, container culture and strict sanitation practices. Selection of seed rhizome size and morphology affected total yield and amount of off-type produced. Best results were obtained when seed pieces used were from normally shaped rhizomes at 28 gm, which produced an average yield of 4.1 kg of normal ginger rhizomes per container. Direct planting of tissue culture plantlets produced an average of 3.5 kg per container with 7.1% off -types.

Technical Abstract: A greenhouse-based culture system to produce ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) rhizomes free of bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi) disease is described. The sustainable system utilizes disease-free ginger seed rhizomes from tissue culture, elevated greenhouse benches, planting bags, commercial potting mix and dried coffee hulls. Two sizes, 14 g and 28 g, of "normal" and "off type" rhizomes were compared to tissue culture plantlets for yield and size. An average of 4.1 kg of ginger was harvested from bags planted with the 28 g normal seed pieces and no off type rhizomes were produced. The tissue cultured plantlets produced an average of 3.5 kg of ginger per bag with 7.1% off type rhizomes. Off type seed rhizomes produced 75 - 100% off type rhizomes. The optimum production estimates resulted in an equivalent production potential of 153,750 kg.ha.