In vitro propagation and assessment of genetic fidelity in Dioscorea deltoidea, a potent diosgenin yielding endangered plant

Abstract

Dioscorea deltoidea (Family: Dioscoreaceae) is a high value endangered medicinal plant and the source of pharmaceutically important bioactive compound diosgenin, which is used in the synthesis of steroidal drugs. Establishing an efficient reproducible regeneration system is necessary for its sustainable utilization and conservation. The purpose of this research was to establish an effective and efficient in vitro regeneration protocol for D. deltoidea and assess its genetic and biochemical fidelity. In this report, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different types and concentration of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) were studied. Maximum shoot regeneration frequency was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L − 1 BA whereas higher shoot multiplication was observed in 2.0 mg L − 1 BA + 1.0 mg L − 1 IBA. Highest rooting was recovered on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L − 1 NAA. In vitro rooted plantlets were acclimatized with a survival rate of 96%. The genetic fidelity of the mother plant (MP), acclimatized plant (AP) and in vitro regenerants were found to be clonally similar as examined through ISSR fingerprinting. Of 7 ISSR primers tested, 5 produced scorable amplified products. The High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) based chemical assessment showed varied chemical profile. The developed protocol would be beneficial in providing a germplasm conservation system, isolation of secondary metabolites and production of high value clonal regenerants for commercial production.