Evaluation of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) genotypes for yield, curcumin and essential oil content in northern dry zone of Karnataka

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) belonging to Zingiberaceae family is one of the most useful herbal medicinal plants. Extensive researches have proven that most of the turmeric activities of the turmeric are due to curcumin. It has the protective against various cancers, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic and hard curable diseases. It also is used as nephro protective, anticoagulant and anti-HIV to combat AIDS. Curcumin exhibits great promise as a therapeutic agent. The field experiment was taken up to evaluate the turmeric genotypes for its quality at the Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Karnataka during 2014-2015. There was significant variation for quality among genotypes. The curcumin content ranged between 2.08 and 4.73 per cent. Maximum curcumin content was recorded in var. Prathibha (4.73 %) followed by var. Suroma (4.58 %), while the minimum was recorded in genotype CLI-327 (2.08 %).