Yam (Dioscorea spp.), a tropical monocot flowering, perennial multispecies crop, belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae. It is a valuable source of medicines
and food security crops in yam-growing regions in Asia, Africa, and southern
American countries. More than 600 yam species are widely cultivated in tropical and
subtropical countries and used as food and medication for various human diseases. It
provides big starchy tuberous roots as a source of carbohydrates, protein, antioxidants,
minerals, and vitamins. It is also high in vitamin C, B6, manganese, potassium, and
antioxidant compounds, which nourish and protect against oxidative cell damage in the
human body. In addition, they are rich in potent plant compounds, including
anthocyanins, a color-producing chemical that helps to reduce blood pressure and
inflammation and protect against cancer and diabetes. Exceptionally, yam is an
excellent crop for food security and human health. Micropropagation of medicinal yam
is essential for the large-scale multiplication and conservation of endangered species.
So far, in micropropagation of medicinal yam spp., very few studies have been
conducted. These studies used axillary buds, nodal cuttings, mature, immature leaves,
and shoot tips as explants for micropropagation. Several tissue culture techniques are
available for micropropagation of yam, especially direct and indirect organogenesis for
in-vitro propagation for large-scale generation of plantlets.
Keywords: Dioscorea spp., Medicinal yams, Micropropagation, Organogenesis, Regeneration, Tissue culture, Yam basal medium.
