RESEARCH ON CORRELATIONS BETWEEN CLIMATIC FACTORS AND DIOSGENIN CONTENT IN DIOSCOREA ZINGIBERENSIS WRIGHT

Dioscorea zingiberensis wright is native to China. In this paper eorretlaions between seven climatic factors(mean annual temperature, mean annual relative humidity, mean annual 5 cm soil temperature, annual precipitation, Annual sunshine hours, mean annual sunshine percentage and annual≥10℃ accumulative temperature) and diosgenin content has been reported. It is annual precipitation and mean annual 5 cm soil temperature that are real principal factors affecting the diosgenin content. The most suitable climatic range for the biosynthesis and accumulation of diosgenin is as follows:Annual precipitation:800～900 mm, 850 mm the best.Mean annual 5 cm soil temperature: 15～17℃, 16℃ the best.