Elicitation of diosgenin production in Dioscorea floribunda by ethylene-generating agent.

Dioscorea floribunda cells aggregates were cultured in liquid modified MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2 mg/l) and kinetine (0.1 mg/l). The cells were treated with different concentrations of ethylene-generating-agent 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (2-CEPA). 2-CEPA at concentrations of 50 mg/l, 100 mg/l elicited production of diosgenin. The level of diosgenin increased to 72-fold higher than those of non-treated cells with 100 mg/l of 2-CEPA.