Abstract:
An investigation on the evaluation of Kacholam (Kaempferia galanga L.) types for morphological variability and yield was undertaken at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1993-94. The experiment was aimed at studying the extent of morphological variability and yield contributing characters in the local collection of Kaempferia and to identify types with high yield potential for large scale cultivation. It was also aimed to compare the performance of the types under open and as intercrop in coconut garden. The salient results of the investigation are abstracted below. There was considerable amount of variability for the characters, number of leaves, leaf area index, days to flowering, spread of flowering, plant spread, number of main and secondary zhizomes, frash rhizome yield, dry rhizome yield, biological yield and oil percentage both under open and shaded condition. Under coconut garden in addition to the above characters, length and width of leaves and number of suckers per plant showed variability. There was difference in the performance of the types under open and shaded conditions. Fresh rhizome yield was more under open condition whereas dry rhizome yield was comparable which indicates that Kacholam can be grown as an intercrop in coconut garden. Ponnukkara can be considered as a stable type which performed well under both the conditions. Vellanikkara Seln. Br was found to be a shade sensitive type and the performance of Palakkad was poor under open and shaded conditions. Regarding oil yield Vellanikkara Selections were the superior types both under open and shaded conditions. Rhizome yield and oil yield were found to be two independent characters. This necessitates separate selection criteria for types with high rhizome yield and oil yield. Under open condition number of leaves, leaf area index, days to flowering and spread of flowering had high correlation and direct effect on yield with moderately high heritability and appreciable genetic advance. So selection will be effective for these characters. For the crop under shade, selection will be effective for the characters, number of leaves 5 months after planting, leaf area index and spread of flowering. Under shade plant spread was an important character which had high correlation and direct effect on yield. But the character recorded moderately high heritability but low genetic advance. No morphological character was found to be correlated with oil yield. So independeant selection has to be made for identifying varieties with high oil content per unit area.
