Molecular characterization of red ginger varieties (Zingiber officinale Roxb. var. rubrum) by DNA markers

Abstract

Red ginger (Zingiber officinale Roxb. var. rubrum) rhizomes have been traditionally used in Indonesia to increase human health. Therefore, the assurance of raw material quality holds significant importance in the industrial application of red ginger. The primary step in ensuring the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the final product in the industrial environment is the identification of plants used as raw materials for supplements and her bal medications. DNA-based molecular characterization approaches have been specifically developed to aid in the identification of herbal raw materials prior to their application in production processes. Based on the findings derived from the conducted research, the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique can be employed to amplify the DNA isolates of red ginger rhizome samples. The results obtained from the PCR-RAPD amplification of DNA samples extracted from red ginger plants indicated that 90.48% of the total 147 bands seen exhibited polymorphism. The findings suggest a tendency for DNA banding patterns derived from red ginger samples planted in the same geographic area to display clustering tendencies.