Shoot proliferation, induction of roots in excised shoots and undifferentiated growth in Kallstroemia pubescens

Steroids have important roles in pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries. Diosgenin, cholesterol, sitosterols, bile acids solasodine and hecogenin are important steroid precursors. Of these, diosgenin is considered as the most important and versatile precursor and used for the production of steroidal hormones, anabolic agents, corticosteroids and oral contraceptives etc. Besides other plants Kallstroemia pubescens is a good source of diosgenin as it has many advantages over others. By using tissue culture technology the present study was carried out for in vitro proliferation of axillary buds through nodal segment, rooting of regenerated shoots, callus induction in the segments of stem and leaves. For that modified MS medium supplemented with different growth regulators were used. It was found that MS medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/1 BAP, 15 mg/1 AdS and 0.1 mg/1 LBA was best for development of shoots from axillary buds and proliferation of shoots as well. Whereas the regenerated shoots rooted well on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/1 IBA and 0.5 mg/1 NAA. Moreover, callus induction (by using leaf and stem segments as explants) and growth was found to be good on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/1 NAA, 2.0 mg/12, 4-D and 0.5 mg/1 BAP. Furthermore, in future higher biomass of regenerated shoots may be used for the extraction of diosgenin.