Elicitors on steviosides production in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni calli

Abstract

Abstract Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni produces glycosides known as steviosides and they have increased their demand. Biotechnological techniques are used as an alternative to increase the production of these compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of elicitors on the synthesis of steviosides in the calli of S. rebaudiana. To meet this goal, a completely randomized experimental design with four replicates was used for each elicitor. Calli obtained from leaf segments were cultured on medium containing salicylic acid (10 and 100 mM), methyl jasmonate (10 and 100 mM), citric acid (200 mg L−1), ascorbic acid (100 mg L−1), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (1.5 mg L−1), and benzylaminopurine (1.5 mg L−1), under red, blue or white light for 24-h, at 25 or 28 °C. The calli cultivated at 28 °C or with 100 mM of salicylic acid increased their stevioside production by 9.8 times compared to that of the leaves of plants grown under greenhouse conditions. The concentration of rebaudioside A exhibited the highest values (34.6 times higher than in leaves) by applying 10 mM of salicylic acid. Steviol accumulated in the presence of antioxidants and growth regulators and by combining 100 mM of salicylic acid and 28 °C. Salicylic acid, certain types of exogenous antioxidants, growth regulators, and temperature may promote the accumulation of steviosides.