OBJECTIVEIn order to find the new varieties with different horticultural characters, and investigate the mutation effects of seeds of Dioscorea zingerbrensis.

METHODThe seeds were carried by a satellite into space and recovered. The space mutation effect on the germination, seedling growth, chromosomes and rhizome diosgenin content of SP, populations of D. zingerbrensis were investigated.

RESULTStimulated by space environment, the seed possessed the fast germinating characteristics. Germination rate showed no change. It was also found that a few plants were aneuploid or tetraploid. Fresh rhizome weight and rhizome diosgenin content in the second year plant were remarkably higher than those of the control. However, the increasing of third year plant was slow down, and rhizome diosgenin content in the third year plant declined simultaneously.

CONCLUSIONThe space environment showed stimulating effects on seed germination, fresh rhizome weight and rhizome diosgenin content.