Three crude oligosaccharides were respectively prepared by acid hydrolysis of three polysaccharides, which were water-extracted polysaccharide (WEP), sodium hydroxide-extracted polysaccharide (SEP) and acid-extracted polysaccharide (AEP) from the rhizomes of Dioscorea zingiberensis. Among the three oligosaccharides, the crude oligosaccharide prepared by acid hydrolysis of WEP was found to be th...

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is one of the most common methods for gene expression studies. Data normalization based on reference genes is essential for obtaining reliable results for qRT-PCR assays. This study evaluated potential reference genes of Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), which is an important tuber crop and medicinal plant in East Asia. The expre...

Phytochemical investigations of the tubers of Dioscorea bulbifera L. resulted in the isolation of nine norclerodane diterpenoids, including two new compounds, diosbulbins N (1) and P (3), a new naturally occurring compound, diosbulbin O (2), and six known ones, diosbulbins A-D, F and G (4-9). Their structures were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The absolute stereochemistry o...

Various farm wastes were investigated as substrates for Pleurotus tuber-regium. The highest mushroom harvest (fresh weight) was obtained from oil palm fruit fiber substrate and the lowest yield was from yam (Dioscorea sp.) peelings. Casing enhanced yield from all substrates. Oil palm fruit fiber spawn is an alternative to the sclerotium in propagating the fungus. Some fungi and pests were assoc...

Root crop production in Papua New Guinea is reviewed. Crops considered are the major ones (Ipomoea batatas, Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea aiata, D. escuienta, Xanthosoma sagitti!olium), other significant root crops (Manihot esculenta, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Cyrtosperma chpmissonis., Alocasia macro"htza and Solanum tuberosum) and 27 minor crops. For the major and significant crops, aspect...

Dioscorea bulbifera L. is a widely distributed plant in the humid and sub-humid tropics. The taxonomic treatment of this species ambiguous due to its extreme polymorphic morphological characters. Therefore, it imperative assess distribution, inter intraspecific variability relationships D. bulbifera. In study, genetic diversity distribution 41 accessions Uganda were investigated. Diversity amon...