Morphological traits and Nastism of Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.)

Necessity demands observation and assessment of growth development of Mango ginger plants (with paucity of or no publication about its agronomy and pathology) as prerequisite to understanding their nature and avoid incorrect plant disease diagnosis (by taking for abnormal condition that which is normal). Hence, this study observed the morphological development of Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) plants, a rare crop, and assessed for its plant height and number of leaves in the years 2016 and 2017. The rhizomes, the most economic part of the plant, was observed to emerge from corm and appeared finger-like with dome ends. Mango ginger leaves averaged 9 per plant stand and showed curling nastic movement. Sunlight and temperature had positive and significant effect on the daily curling and uncurling of leaves. Also, height parameter of Mango ginger plants was inconsistent when measured from soil level to tip of youngest leaf/apical bud; but when measured from soil level to peak/top (highest point attained at natural position above soil level) irrespective of what leaf made the upper boundary, plants increased in height with time. Significant difference existed in 2016 between the two different upper boundaries of plant height. This study: provide basic understanding of the morphology of Mango ginger plant; and gives original and significant insight on the nastic movement of its leaves, for better understanding of its fundamental botany, which may form bases for its disease identification and further investigation as an under-cultivated and underutilized crop (for colouring and flavouring drinks, and as: food preservative; medicine for cure of bacterial and fungal infection; anti-inflammatory and antipyretic; hypotriglyceridemic and hypoglycemic; anti-cancer with fertility potential)