The initiation and maintenance of callus from tubers of Colocasia esculenta and Dioscorea rotundata

Abstract

An attempt was made to initiate callus from tuber segments of Dioscorea rotundata (yam) and Colocasia esculenta (taro) on six different agar media. Callus production was achieved on a medium containing Linsmaier and Skoog's salt mixture fortified with various concentrations of kinetin, napthalene acetic acid, and coconut milk. The tissues were then subcultured on media to which Kaden's vitamins were added. The subcultured tissues grew after a few weeks into masses of amber, semispherical tissue thus suggesting that high concentrations of kinetin, napthalene acetic acid indole-3-acetic acid, and coconut milk were essential for in vitro callus production from yam and taro tubers.