In vitro and ex vitro evaluation of long-term micropropagated turmeric as analyzed through cytophotometry, phytoconstituents, biochemical and molecular markers

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), a high valued medicinal plant, was micropropagated through induction of multiple shoots using latent axillary buds of rhizome. Cytophotometric and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) as well as inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) analysis were used to periodically monitor the genetic stability of micropropagated clones of Curcuma longa conserved in vitro up to 7 years at every 6 months interval. A total of eighteen RAPD and eight ISSR primers gave 45,537 distinct and reproducible bands, monomorphic across all 353 plants analyzed. Micropropagated turmeric after being conserved for 7 years in vitro was transplanted into soil in field. Drug yielding potential of tissue culture derived plants was evaluated in field through estimation of phytoconstituents like curcumin and essential oil contents. The result of 2 years of field trial showed that micropropagated turmeric retained stability in all the characteristics examined when compared with the field performance of conventionally propagated plants. Thus long term conservation of an elite genotype of turmeric with epigenetic and genetic stability is significant for stable supply of drug i.e., curcumin and essential oil to the market.