Effect of ethylene on diosgenin accumulation in callus cultures of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

This paper studies the effects of different concentrations of ethephon (an ethylene-releasing compound) on the level of the steroidal sapogenin, diosgenin, in callus cultures of Trigonella foenum-graecum. The results show that diosgenin synthesis and/or accumulation was stimulated by 5, 15, and 25 ppm ethephon. This was particularly true in the case of the 25 ppm treatment when an increase of 195% was observed. Concentrations of 50 ppm and 100 ppm reduced diosgenin levels. The following morphological and ultrastructural changes were observed in the callus cells of T. foenum-graecum treated with ethephon: increased cell diameter, decreased cell packing (for all concentrations assayed), increased cytoplasmatic density (25 ppm treatment) and alteration of the membrane structures (50 and 100 ppm).