[Research on correlations between climatic factors and diosgenin content in Dioscorea zingiberensis Wright]

Dioscorea zingiberensis wright is native to China. In this paper correlations between seven climatic factors (mean annual temperature, mean annual relative humidity, mean annual 5 cm soil temperature, annual precipitation. Annual sunshine hours, mean annual sunshine percentage and annual greater than or equal to 10 degrees C accumulative temperature) and diosgenin content has been reported. It is annual precipitation and mean annual 5 cm soil temperature that are real principal factors affecting the diosgenin content. The most suitable climatic range for the biosynthesis and accumulation of diosgenin is as follows: Annual precipitation: 800-900 mm, 850 mm the best. Mean annual 5 cm soil temperature: 15-17 degrees C, 16 degrees C the best.