ADAPTATION OF STEVIA REBAUDIANA BERTONI PLANT IN EGYPT

Abstract

Stevia or sweet leaf (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, Asteraceae) is a small shrub, a non-caloric natural-source alternative to artificially produced sugar substitutes. A protocol was developed for adaptation of Stevia rebaudiana plant in greenhouse under Egypt condition to study the effect of plant age, light duration, (light duration and light intensity) interaction and time of adaptation during various year months on adaptation of the plant. The plants used in this study were developed previously in vitro and grown in Applied Research Center of Medicinal Plants farm, at Abo-Elhol region, Egypt. The best adaptation results obtained from the plants at age from 2 to 6 weeks, while plants at 8 weeks age decreased in survival percentage (50%). The effect of several light duration on adaptation of the plant showed that, increasing light long more than 11 h/day affected positively on adaptation parameters. 12 h/day light long interaction with different light intensity were recorded the best adaptation parameters. The effect of planting time around the year from January to December was studied. Significant differences were observed between the treatments. The highest shoot length obtained from plants cultivated in July and August. June, July, August and September were the best for plant strength, from March to September a 100% survival percentage was recorded while January and December recorded a 0.0% survival percentage.