Characterization of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) germplasm based on volatile and non-volatile components

Abstract

A sample of world germplasm of ginger consisting of 46 accessions was profiled for its volatile oil constituents, using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC/MS) and grouped with three similarity coefficients, besides analyzing its pungent principles using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 60 compounds were identified in the essential oil. Two of the three similarity coefficients (Jaccard’s and Sorensen - Dice similarity coefficients) placed the accessions in 14 groups. The dendrograms constructed using this two similarity coefficients were similar in form and content. However, the grouping pattern of the accessions in the third dendrogram (Simple Matching similarity coefficient) was slightly different. Three accessions namely, 'Kintoki', 'Brazil' and 'Pink Ginger' were unique. HPLC analysis of the pungent principles showed 6-gingerol as the predominant pungent principle in all the ginger accessions except the exotic ginger, 'Oman', in which 8-shogaol was the predominant one.

Key words: Essential oil, gingerol, shogaol, Zingiber officinale.