[Studies on plantlet regeneration from the mature leaves of Dioscorea zingiberensis]

To establish a protocol of rapid clonal propagation of Dioscorea zingiberensis using mature leaves as explants.

Out the optimal hormone combinations for callus induction, adventitious bud initiation, adventitious bud multiplication and rooting were found out by using MS medium with the macroelements at half strength as basal medium and studying the effects of BA, NAA and IBA on the processes.

More than 80% of leaf explants formed callus when they were cultured on the media containing 1.0 - 5.0 mg x L(-1) BA and 1.0 - 2.0 mg x L(-1) NAA for 60 days; more than 60% of calli initiated adventitious buds within 50 days after they were transferred to the media containing 2.0 - 5.0 mg x L(-1) BA and 0.2 - 0.5 mg L(-1) NAA; all the adventitious buds rooted well after they were planted on the medium with 2.0 mg x L(-1) IBA for 20 days; the regenerated plantlets grew vigorously after they were transplanted and the survival rate was up to 80%.