Effect of plant growth regulator on in-vitro callus induction and shoot proliferation of a natural sweetening crop, Stevia Rebaudiana (Bertoni)

Abstract

Stevia is the world's only all natural sweetener with zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index. Harvested from a plant in the daisy family, Slevia provides a truly delicious and healthy alternative to sugar or chemical sweeteners. It is medicinal important plant for diabetic patients. In this study, Surface sterilized leaf explants of stevia rebaudiallu Bertoni were cultivated in MS medium supplemented with the combination of 2 - 4 D together with N-(2-furfurylamino)-1-H-Purine-6-amine (Kinetin) (0.5 + 1.0, 1.0+2.0, 1.5+3.0 rugll respectively) and 2–4 D together with NAA (0.5 +1.0, 1.0+2.0, 1.5 +3.0 mg/l respectively) for the callus induction and for the shoot proliferation MS medium supplemented with different combination of BAP and NAA (i.e. 0.5 + 0.5, 0.5 + 1.0, 0.5 + 1.5, 0.5 + 2.0, 1.0 + 0.5, 1.0 + 1.0, 1.0 + 1.5, 1.0 + 2.0). In the present study, we observed that the leaf explants cultured on concentration of 2 - 4 D with NAA (1.5 + 3.0 mg/I), showed maximum response for callus induction and the explants cultured on 0.5 mg/l BAP + 1.0 mg/I NAA showed maximum shoot proliferation (85%).