In vitro polyploid induction using colchicine for Zingiber Officinale Roscoe cv. 'Fengtou' ginger

'Fengtou' ginger is a high quality ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) cultivar only planted in Laifeng County, Enshi, Huhei, China, and is a National Product of Geographical Indication originated. 'Fengtou' ginger yield is low compared with most ginger. Therefore, it is imperative to apply breeding methods to improve yield. One strategy to accelerate breeding is polyploid induction, which could improve yield and maintain quality. In this study, different concentrations of colchicine (50, 100, 150, 200 mg/L) and different durations of exposure (3, 5, 7 days) were applied to stem segments of adventitious buds in ginger. Among obtained polyploidy plantlets were identified by flow cytometric analysis. The optimal induction condition of tetraploids was that the concentrations of colchicine was 150 mg/L, induced for 7 days, the chromosome doubling rate reached 18%. The tetraploid plants achieved were larger than their diploid plants for leaf length, leaf width, leaf thickness, stem diameter and guard cell. The soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline and other substances were also significant difference, especially carotenoids concentration was 1.375 times in contrast with diploid plants, which showed that tetraploids ginger had potentiality to increase yield and better adaptability. Key message We explored the polyploid induction system of Zingiber Officinale Roscoe cv. 'Fengtou' ginger. Studies of morphological characteristics and secondary metabolites have shown that tetraploids ginger have potentiality to increase yield and better adaptability.