title: In vitro micropropagation, differentiation of aerial bulbils and tubers and diosgenin content in Dioscorea bulbifera.
abstract: Dioscorea bulbifera could be micropropagated through nodal segments and bulbils. The best medium for regeneration and bulbil differentiation was MS + 0.5 microM IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) + 20.0 microM Kn (kinetin) + 500 mg/L CH (casein hydrolysate) + activated charcoal (20 %). Diosgenin content was maximum in regenerants grown on MS + 5.0 microM IAA + 20.0 microM Kn + 500 mg/L CH. T.s of bulbils could also be used for direct plantlet differentiation as well as bulbil differentiation on MS + 10.0 microM IAA + 20.0 microM Kn + (in mg/L) 30 each of Asp (asparagine) + Arg (arginine) + Gln (glutamine) + 10 Ad (adenine) + 500 CH + 10 Cyst hyd (cysteine hydrochloride). Diosgenin yield in plantlets reached a maximum after 20 weeks. The results indicate that micropropagation, bulbil formation and tuberisation can be achieved in vitro in D. bulbifera, hitherto a less exploited plant, and can further be used for obtaining enhanced levels of diosgenin.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biotechnology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004144:Diosgenin