The effect of chlorophyll-bleaching herbicides on growth, carotenoid and diosgenin levels in cell suspension cultures of Dioscorea deltoidea

Abstract

Bleaching herbicides of the phenylpyridazinone group (norflurazon, metflurazon, SAN 9774 and SAN 9785) and difunon and amitrole were added to cell suspension cultures of Dioscorea deltoidea at 1μM. Difunon inhibited growth and carotenoid biosynthesis and metflurazon inhibited growth. Norflurazon was the only herbicide tested that influenced diosgenin production. Norflurazon increased the rate of diosgenin biosynthesis so that 180mg/l were obtained after 14 days of incubation as compared to 30 days for the control to reach the same level. © 1984.