Background: This study was conducted to investigate the growth characteristics, root yield and curcuminoid content of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), cultivated using mother seed rhizomes (MR) and finger seed rhizome (FR) of different sizes. MR are attached to the stem, and FR are connected to the MR, and are used as a general seed rhizome. Methods and Results: Seed rhizomes of different types and sizes were used: large, medium and small for FR, and large, half-sized, and small for MR. These were assigned to the experimental groups and cultivated under greenhouse conditions. The growth characteristics, root yield, and curcuminoid content did not show clear difference between MR and FR, but suggest that the larger seed rhizomes (above 30 g) could have higher root yields. On average, harvested mother rhizomes (HMR) contained more curcuminoid than harvested finger rhizomes (HFR), while the yield of HFR was higher than that of HMR. The higher weight of harvested roots correlated significantly with elevated curcuminoid content. Conclusions: The two seed rhizomes, MR and FR, did not differ in root yield and curcuminoid contents, but larger seed rhizomes may produce better root yields. This suggest that the optimum seed rhizome is larger FR, to produce higher yields and quality in turmeric root production.

강황 (Curcuma longa L.) 색소의 curcuminoid 성분인 curcumin (CUR), demethoxycurcumin (DEM), bisdemethoxy-curcumin (BIS)의 정량분석을 위해 유의성있는 검량선(r2=0.9999**) 을 작성하였다. 사용된 HPLC는 역상칼럼을 장착하고 420nm의 UV 검출조건, 그리고 이동상으로 acetonitrile: 0.1~% acetic acid /water의 50 : 50 혼합용액을 이용하는 조건으로 분석조건이 확립되었다. 국내 6개 지역에서 재배된 강황들의 색소성분 함량분석 결과, CUR가 91.6mg/g으로 가장 높았으며 DEM은 56.9 mg/g이고 BIS는 23.0 mg/g으로 가장 낮게 나타났으며 총량은 평균 171.5 mg/g이었다. 강황 색소추출물의 저장시기별 색소성분의 함량 변화를 조사한 결과 -20℃ 냉동저장은 거의 손실이 없었으나 상온저장은 60일 이후 급격한 감소율을 보였다. 저장 90일째의 색소성분은 암조건에서 약 50~% , 명조건에서 약 30~% 만이 남아 있어 curcuminoid색소성분은 빛과 온도에 의해 분해가 촉진되는 것을 알 수 있었다.