Influence of Genotypes and Contrasting Production Environments on Curcuminoids and its Stability in Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.).

Understanding the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) on the performance and stability of curcuminoids among turmeric genotypes across production environments is essential for selecting suitable genotypes for different production environments. In the present investigation, 21 turmeric genotypes of various geographical locations in India were assessed for curcuminoids (CUR-curcumin, DMC-demethoxycurcumin, and BDMC-bis demethoxycurcumin) under three environmental conditions viz, green house, vertical structures and open field. The analysis of variance indicated significant GEI effects on curcuminoids, underscoring the importance of GEI on genotype performance. In vertical structures, IISR Pragati and Waigon Turmeric were found to be superior for all three curcuminoids. In greenhouse conditions, CIM Pitambar, CO 3, and Acc. 1545 were superior for BDMC, while CIM Pitambar, IISR Prathiba, and IISR Pragati excelled for DMC, and Acc. 1545 for CUR. Under field conditions, Waigon Turmeric recorded higher BDMC and DMC, while Roma, Acc. 1545, and IISR Prathiba had the highest CUR. Our findings revealed that the curcuminoids relative ratio among the genotypes, which grouped into four patterns, was primarily influenced by genotype rather than environment. The promising genotypes for curcuminoids across the production environments were Waigon Turmeric, Rajendra Sonali, Roma, IISR Prathiba, Acc. 1545, NDH 8, IISR Pragati, and CIM Pitambar. Additionally, IISR Pragati for BDMC, Acc. 69/22/5/I3 for DMC, and Rajendra Sonali for CUR exhibited both superior performance and greater stability compared to other genotypes. In the present study, Field conditions, followed by greenhouse conditions, were found to be the best for all three curcuminoid across three production environments. These findings are crucial for extraction industries and farmers to choose the best genotypes and suitable production environments for targeted production of higher curcuminoids in turmeric.