Abstract
BackgroundPlant nutrition and climatic conditions play important roles on the growth and secondary metabolites of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni); however, the nutritional dose is strongly governed by the soil properties and climatic conditions of the growing region. In northern India, the interactive effects of crop ecology and plant nutrition on yield and secondary metabolites of stevia are not yet properly understood. Thus, a field experiment comprising three levels of nitrogen, two levels of phosphorus and three levels of potassium was conducted at three locations to ascertain whether the spatial and nutritional variability would dominate the leaf yield and secondary metabolites profile of stevia.ResultsPrincipal component analysis (PCA) indicates that the applications of 90 kg N, 40 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O ha−1 are the best nutritional conditions in terms of dry leaf yield for CSIR-IHBT (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Institute Himalayan Bioresource Technology) and RHRS (Regional Horticultural Research Station) conditions. The spatial variability also exerted considerable effect on the leaf yield and stevioside content in leaves. Among the three locations, CSIR-IHBT was found most suitable in case of dry leaf yield and secondary metabolites accumulation in leaves.ConclusionsThe results suggest that dry leaf yield and accumulation of stevioside are controlled by the environmental factors and agronomic management; however, the accumulation of rebaudioside-A (Reb-A) is not much influenced by these two factors. Thus, leaf yield and secondary metabolite profiles of stevia can be improved through the selection of appropriate growing locations and proper nutrient management.
Highlights
Plant nutrition and climatic conditions play important roles on the growth and secondary metabolites of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni); the nutritional dose is strongly governed by the soil properties and climatic conditions of the growing region
The results, obtained in the present study, suggest that the dry leaf yield and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites of stevia are strongly controlled by the exogenous supply of plant nutrition, soil properties and climatic conditions of the growing region
The sub-temperate climatic conditions of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-IHBT are more favourable compared with other two locations in terms of leaf yield and secondary metabolites accumulation when plant was grown during 13–15 meteorological standard week (MSW)
Summary
Plant nutrition and climatic conditions play important roles on the growth and secondary metabolites of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni); the nutritional dose is strongly governed by the soil properties and climatic conditions of the growing region. In northern India, the interactive effects of crop ecology and plant nutrition on yield and secondary metabolites of stevia are not yet properly understood. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family and native to South America (Paraguay and Brazil), is widely grown for its sweet leaf. Stevia is being commercially cultivated in Japan, China, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, Korea, USA, India, Tanzania, Canada and Argentina [1,2,3]. The understanding the growth behaviour, accumulation patterns of secondary metabolites and nutrient uptake dynamics in different agro-climatic conditions are prerequisite for introducing a new crop in a particular region
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