Avian cell lines derived from germinal crescent primordial germ cells and gonadal gonocytes with long-term proliferative capacity in vitro and their subsequent rates of colonization and germline transmission are described. In general, male cultures proliferate more rapidly than female cultures although both can be developed into cell lines of >2 × 10(6) cells, at which time, they can be grown indefinitely and a cell bank can be established. All the cell lines injected into embryos transmitted through the germline with the percentage of germline transmission of both male and female cell lines varying from single digits to the high 90s. The derivation of these primordial germ cell and gonadal cell lines and the subsequent robustness of germline transmission validates these cells as suitable for establishment of lines of chickens bearing novel genetic modifications.

Ginger (Zingiber officinaleRosc.), originated in the Indo-Malayan region, is now widely distributed across the tropics of Asia, Africa, America and Australia. It was domesticated in India and China, which represent the centre of origin of the species. Cultivated ginger though sterile, exhibits variations in rhizome and vegetative characters. The crop is gaining importance as a curative agent for a variety of ailments. Yield and quality traits (such as essential oil, fibre and oleoresin contents) along with volatile and non-volatile constituents are important determinants of the commodity's end product. Cultivar diversity for yield and morphological features is well known in ginger with few primitive types having excellent quality. However, the common name(s) of ginger cultivars are confusing and have resulted in geographical bias in itsex situconservation. Most of the molecular/biochemical marker studies reported in ginger show low levels of polymorphism in contrast to plentiful phenotypic variability recorded in the species. The large influence of environmental factors on the content of key compounds, lack of seed set and confusion of the common names are the leading constraints to further varietal improvement of ginger. As tailor-made ginger varieties assume future significance these aspects will have relevance.