Abstract
Dioscorea bulbifera could be micropropagated through nodal segments and bulbils. The best medium for
regeneration and bulbil differentiation was MS + 0.5 μM IAA (indole-3-acetic acid)
+ 20.0 μM Kn (kinetin) + 500 mg/L CH (casein hydrolysate) + activated charcoal (20
%). Diosgenin content was maximum in regenerants grown on MS + 5.0 μM IAA + 20.0 μM
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 μM IAA + 20.0 μM 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.
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Professor P S Srivastava
Centre for Biotechnology
Faculty of Science
Jamia Hamdard
New Delhi 110062
India
Fax: +91-11-26059663
eMail: pss410@rediffmail.com
