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Phylogenetic analysis of Indian Dioscorea and comparison of secondary metabolite content with sampling across the tree

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Abstract

Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae) is a large monocot genus of species with either underground tubers or rhizomes. Many species of Dioscorea are used for food or medicine. Dioscorea is as an emerging model organism that is important in understanding plant biology and evolution. Dioscorea is rich in secondary metabolite content (e.g., diosgenin). The first objective of this study was phylogenetic analysis of Indian Dioscorea. Sampling included 16 Indian species representing approximately 50% of total Indian species. In molecular phylogenetic analyses, using plastid markers (matK, rbcL, atpB-rbcL and ndhF), the tuberous and rhizomatous species formed separate clades with strong support and members of each section formed distinct clade supporting the traditional morphology based sectional classification of Dioscorea. Results of phylogenetic analyses of Indian Dioscorea formed the basis for sampling of species for the second objective of this study, which was to compare the secondary metabolite (phenolics and flavonoid) content in representatives from different sections of Indian Dioscorea. The phenolic content and associated antioxidant activity were studied using methanolic extracts of underground parts. Six species from different sections were used in this study, which are Dioscorea alata L. (six cultivars; Enantiophyllum), D. pentaphylla L. (sect. Botryosicyos), D. esculenta (Lour.) Burkill (sect. Combilium), D. bulbifera L. (sect.  Opsophyton), D. deltoidea Wall. ex Griseb. and D. prazeri Prain et Burkill (sect. Stenophora). The rhizomatous species D. prazeri and D. deltoidea showed higher phenolic and flavonoid contents than the tuberous species. Significant differences were also observed in the phenolic content and antioxidant activities among different cultivars of D. alata.

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Acknowledgements

The research work described here was a part of Ph.D. research work of Paramananda Barman. We thank the UGC, DST- PURSE and the R&D Grant of University of Delhi, New Delhi, for financial and infrastructural support. We are grateful to NBPGR, New Delhi and CTCRI, Thiruvananthapuram for providing some accessions of Dioscorea for this study. We are grateful to Drs. P. L. Uniyal, N. K. Dhal and Sudam Sahu for their support in sample collection and Suraj Umdale and Renu Puri for their help in amplifying few accessions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    Paramananda Barman & R. Geeta

  2. Division of Genomic Resources, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Paramananda Barman & K. V. Bhat

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  1. Paramananda Barman
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  2. K. V. Bhat
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  3. R. Geeta
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Correspondence to Paramananda Barman.

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Barman, P., Bhat, K.V. & Geeta, R. Phylogenetic analysis of Indian Dioscorea and comparison of secondary metabolite content with sampling across the tree. Genet Resour Crop Evol 65, 1003–1012 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0591-4

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