Abstract
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an anti-diabetic plant for which a protocol for rapid plant multiplication from nodal segments and through callus induction from leaf explants was developed with a short incubation period. Maximum callus induction (~100 %) was obtained on modified MS medium incorporated with BAP: NAA (1:3 mg/L) within two to three weeks of incubation under controlled growth room environmental conditions. In the presence of specific concentration/combination of plant growth regulators, the calli obtained from leaf explants were of different colours viz. soft/creamy or off-white, shiny/green, hard/brown and thick/black having varying total sugar content. The present findings deal with induction of callusing in Stevia leaves to achieve rapid callus multiplication. We have also standardized the protocol for plantlet regeneration from Stevia nodal segments where large sized leaves were obtained after 2 weeks of inoculation and the sterile leaves of these regenerated plantlets were used to induce callus. The developed protocol can be utilized for mass production of callus material on a large scale, independent of seasons i.e. external environmental conditions and its dry and purified powdered formulation can be used as a substitute for sugar on a commercial scale.
Published Version
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