Abstract
Taxoid drugs in global market are gradually made from semichemical synthesis of 10-DAB. 10-DAB is not only a major source of taxol analogues, but also a source of new modified effective drugs. This project is to develop a culture system for high 10-DAB containing clones of Taiwan yew, which including mass-propagation, plant nursing, farm management, and branch harvest. We have select 10 clones and propagation by cutting. In these clones, we found 4 clones contained 3000 ppm 10-DAB in every month this year. Their growth performances in both pots and nursery did not differ. Great plant size 30 cm tall planted in field had greater survival than small ones, suggesting plants in nursery should be care for one year more. Due to the middle elevation suitable for Taiwan yew growing is difficult to find in Taiwan, using agroforest system to cultivate Taiwan yew in plain about 50 m in elevation was conducted. We planted Taiwan yew plants between fast growing Jatropha curcas trees. J. curcas as established a progeny test reached 75 cm high in average after been planted for 4 months, some of them reached 165 cm high. They begin to give a shelter effect for Taiwan yew. T1 and Nj were 10-DAB rich clones. They have been planted for several years in field. We harvested 800 kg and 300 kg for each clones. They were grinding and drying in oven. The concentrations between fresh and dried powder of branch showed similar, suggesting this stable 10-DAB could be processed in the well developed factory that established for treating branches of taxol clones.