The PCR method described in the present study is quick and
reliable to the already reported molecular methods for detecting
adulteration in turmeric powder. The SCAR markers C1 and C2 could
successfully detect C. zedoaria/C. malabarica adulteration in four out of
six market samples used in the study. In addition to this, the efficiency
of the SCAR markers developed for detecting adulteration even at
lower concentrations (10 g adulterant kg−1 of turmeric powder) will
substantiate the applicability of the marker as a qualitative diagnostic tool for detection of plant based adulterants in turmeric powder. This
work is relevant in the context of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary
issues of the WTO agreement as turmeric powder traded globally as a
spice and medicine. The technology developed in this study can be
utilized to distinguish the adulterant of C. zedoaria/C. malabarica in
turmeric powders thereby ensuring the quality of the products.