Induction of micro-rhizomes for in vitro ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosco) disease-free planting materials regeneration

Ginger has been a leading spice crop in Ethiopia until ginger bacterial wilt disease interrupted its production. The disease transmission is mainly through infected planting materials and products. Regeneration of healthy planting materials is among the best option to minimize the disease impact. This research aimed to induce and produce disease-free in vitro micro-rhizome in a combination of sucrose, BAP, ammonium nitrate, and silver nitrate. The results from observations indicated that sucrose and BAP were best combinations for induction of disease free micro-rhizomes. Ammonium nitrate and silver nitrate showed lower induction than sucrose and BAP combinations alone. The maximum viable number of micro-rhizome (5.67) and shoot number (10.33) were from 80.0 g/l sucrose and 6.0 mg/l BAP contained medium. Viability test indicated 80 % of the micro-rhizomes were sprouted after one month in soil. The micro-rhizome production potential observed in this experiment can enhance disease-free ginger production.