USE OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS TO OBTAIN MINI TUBERS OF Dioscorea remotiflora Kunth IN MICROPROPAGATED PLANTS

Background: Camote de cerro (Dioscorea remotiflora Kunth) stands out as a crop option in protected agriculture in Mexico due to its agronomic benefits and its versatility in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Despite its potential, it is not commercially cultivated in the country motivating the need to develop an efficient propagation method from vegetative planting material. Previous research suggests that the use of growth retardants stimulates root growth and carbohydrates accumulation in tubers, while applying gibberellic acid (GA3) is strongly related with greater tuber production. Objective: To evaluate the effect of different growth regulators to obtain D. remotiflora mini tubers. Methodology: Two experiments to obtain mini tubers were carried out. The first one evaluated mediums of culture in vitro: MS and MS + 0.5 mg L-1 paclobutrazol (PBZ). In the second, effects of foliar application of GA3, PBZ and trinexapac ethyl (TNE) were evaluated. Both experiments were carried out in two accesions of D. remotiflora plants propagated in vitro and adapted to greenhouse conditions. Results: An increase in mini tubers yield and in their weight was observed when seedlings were propagated in MS + 0.5 mg L-1 PBZ and GA3 was applied to foliage. Implications: The use of growth retardants showed efficiency in developing mini tubers; nevertheless, more research focusing on concentrations and combinations of these substances is needed to improve the protocol to obtain planting material. Conclusions: The observed effect of growth retardants and gibberellic acid application in Dioscorea remotiflora plants suggests a favorable influence in the development of mini tubers. In the long term, this phenomenon could contribute significantly to promoting viability of its commercial cultivation and rehabilitation of previously exploited areas.