Efficiency of RAPD, ISSR, AFLP and ISTR markers for the detection of polymorphisms and genetic relationships in camote de cerro (Dioscorea spp. )

Background At present, species known as camote de cerro (Dioscorea spp.) are found only in the wilderness in Mexico, but their populations are extremely depleted because they are indiscriminately collected, it is urgent to evaluate the conservation status of these plants in order to design conservation genetics programs. In this study, genetic diversity parameters along with cluster analysis based on Jaccard's coefficient were estimated with the objective to assess the efficiency of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and Inverse Sequence Tagged Repeat (ISTR) molecular DNA markers in the Dioscorea genus. Results The polymorphic information contents were quite similar for all markers (≈0.48). Genetic variation of Dioscorea spp., in terms of average heterozygosity was lower with ISTR (0.36), and higher when other markers were used (RAPD = 0.43; ISSR = 0.45 and AFLP = 0.47). Conclusion This indicates an important level of genetic differences despite the fact that the plant is asexually propagated. Based on the diversity statistics, any marker tested in present work can be recommended for use in large-scale genetic studies of populations. However, the low correlations among different molecular marker systems show the importance of the complementarity of the information that is generated by different markers for genetic studies involving estimation of polymorphism and relationships.

Ethylene treatment improves diosgenin accumulation in in vitro cultures of Dioscorea zingiberensis via up-regulation of CAS and HMGR gene expression

Background: The perennial medicinal herb Dioscorea zingiberensis is a very important plant used for steroid drug manufacturing for its high level of diosgenin in rhizome. Although the stimulation of diosgenin accumulation by ethylene has been reported in a few of plant species, its regulation is not yet characterized at the molecular level, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Results: In this study, the effects of ethylene on diosgenin biosynthesis in in vitro cultures of D. zingiberensis were described. The results showed that, in samples treated with ethylene at concentration E3 (10(4) dilution of 40% ethephon), the diosgenin biosynthesis was significantly promoted in comparison with the control samples. Treatment with high concentrations of ethylene had inhibitory effect, whereas with low concentration of the gas elicitor brought about no detectable deleterious effect on the growth rate and diosgenin content of the cultures. The considerable increase of diosgenin level in in vitro cultured Dioscorea zingiberensis by ethylene application is accompanied by the concomitant increase of soluble proteins and chlorophyll content. The gene expressions of cycloartenol synthase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase but not of squalene synthase or farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase were up-regulated by applied ethylene. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ethylene treatment enhanced diosgenin accumulation via up-regulation of the gene expressions of cycloartenol synthase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase.

Evaluación en campo de plantas de ñame (Dioscorea alata L) obtenidas de los microtubérculos formados en sistema de inmersión temporal / Field evaluation of yam plants (Dioscorea alata L) obtained from microtubers produced in a temporary immersion system

Los microtubérculos en algunas especies de plantas constituyen una importante alternativa como material vegetal de plantación. Se definió como objetivo de trabajo evaluar en campo la respuesta morfoagronómica de las plantas obtenidas de los microtubérculos de ñame formados en Sistema de Inmersión Temporal (SIT). Como variantes experimentales se plantaron tres categorías de microtubérculos, clasificados según su masa fresca (I. de 0,5 a 0,9 g; II. de 1,0 a 2,9 g; III. igual o mayor de 3,0 g), plantas in vitro previamente aclimatadas y corona de tubérculo. Se evaluó el efecto de la masa fresca de los microtubérculos sobre su brote, supervivencia y posterior desarrollo de las plantas derivadas de ellos en campo. Con los microtubérculos de ñame, con una masa fresca igual o superior a 3,0 g, se alcanzó el más alto porcentaje de brotación (91,30%) y supervivencia de las plantas (96,50%), así como las mejores respuestas en los caracteres cuantitativos que se evaluaron en campo. Estos resultados confirmaron la importancia de la masa fresca de los microtubérculos para ser empleados como material vegetal de plantación directo en campo.

Microtubers in some plant species represent an important alternative crop-planting material. The presentwork involved field work for evaluating the morphoagronomic response of plants obtained from yam microtubersproduced in a temporary immersion system (TIS). Three categories of microtuber were planted asexperimental variants; they were classified by fresh mass (1 - 0.5 to 0.9 g, 2 - from 1.0 to 2.9 g and 3 - equal to or greater than 3.0 g), previously in vitro-acclimated plants and tuber crowns. The effect of microtuber freshweight on their sprouting, survival and later development of the plants derived from them in the field were evaluated. The highest sprouting (91.30%) and plant survival percentages (96.50%) and the best response in quantitative traits evaluated in the field were obtained with yam microtubers having a fresh mass equal to or greater than 3.0 g. These results confirmed the importance of microtubers’ fresh weight for using them as plant material in direct planting in the field.