An improved method of in vitro propagation ofDioscorea bulbifera

Nodal stem segments ofDioscorea bulbifera were induced to form plantlets in vitro. Rooted plantlets were obtained on Murashige-Skoog 14] revised medium supplemented initially with 5 mg 1⁻¹ kinetin and subsequently with 5 mg l⁻¹ indole-butyric acid. By increasing the kinetin concentration from 5 mg l⁻¹ to 10 mg l⁻¹, the number of shoots forming per node was increased from five to eight. When kinetin was substituted with 6-benzylaminopurine at only 1 mg l⁻¹, nine shoots formed on each node. Each shoot could be excised from the node and induced to form a new crop of multiple shoots. Rooted plantlets could be successfully transferred to in vivo conditions.