Effects of Growth Regulators on Forced Sprouting and Growth of Ginger

In Taiwan, the early harvesting of young ginger is a cultivation technique for domestic ginger, which can be harvested early by forced sprouting. At present, ethylene is used as the sprouting agent. Despite its favorable sprouting effect, the technique can still be improved. Experimental results revealed that 1% citric acid, 300-ppm and 450-ppm ethephon treatments effectively facilitated the formation of 2.4, 2.4, and 2.6 large buds (diameter of >= 1 cm), respectively, in the rhizome. The stems and leaves of the ginger seed rhizomes that were subjected to forced sprouting emerged from the soil one month after planting, and emergence rates of 46.7% and 83.3% were achieved using citric acid and ethephon, respectively. Although the fresh weight of semi-matured ginger rhizomes obtained by forced sprouting treatment was lower, the results can still provide a reference for the early harvest of young ginger in Taiwan. Among the examined gingers, semi-matured ginger that was subjected to 50-ppm GA3 forced sprouting treatment exhibited the most favorable growth, and the average weight of its rhizomes reached 1,567 g, which was not significantly different from the weight obtained by conventional cultivation, but significantly greater than that obtained by other treatments. The GA3 forced sprouting treatment was not very effective, but it had an excellent effect on improving the yield of semi-matured ginger rhizomes. In the future, this treatment will be conducive for the production of semi-matured or matured ginger.