Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effect of edaphic environmental conditions in the concentration of principal steviol glycosides and Stevia rebaudiana Bert yield, utilizing leaves from five Colombian regions. The structure of the experiment was a randomized complete block design with two treatments in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement (5 locations × 2 radiation levels). In each experimental unit (UE), five healthy plants of similar physiological growth age were selected for the extraction of total glycosides (GT), stevioside (Stv), rebaudioside A (Rb-A),and leaf yield. Results were analyzed with the SAS statistical package (version 9.1). Concentrations of total glycosides and rebaudioside A showed a positive effect with the increase of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu). Therefore, they are important in the available phase of the soil to obtain an increase in these glycosides. Meanwhile, boron (B) presented a negative correlation under these conditions. For the production of stevioside, N, Mg, manganese (Mn) had a positive correlation, and calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) had a negative correlation. Similarly, for leaf yields by locality, it was found that N, Ca, Mg, and B have a positive correlation with leaf production, while Mg, Mn, and iron (Fe) negatively correlate with biomass gain.The cultivation of stevia can be established in different soil conditions, precipitation and solar radiation in Colombia. Therefore, it is necessary to advance fertilization plans with these nutrients, considering the response of these metabolites to their application.
Highlights
For proper growth and development, and optimal performance with high quality stevia leaf, adequate amounts of water, nutrients and solar radiation are necessary
The results indicate that the requirements in the nutritional macroelements of stevia may vary, due to factors specific to each locality, such as temperature, precipitation, pH, the soil, and climatic supply [1] that may have a differential effect on the absorption of each nutritional element and the optimal growth of the stevia crop in these regions
The results showed that, for rebaudioside A, the macro and microelements that correlated with the increase in the concentration of this metabolite were P, Mg, and Cu, but
Summary
For proper growth and development, and optimal performance with high quality stevia leaf, adequate amounts of water, nutrients and solar radiation are necessary. Yield and quality are affected by a series of external factors, over which the farmer has no control, such as precipitation and temperature, in addition to having a very important role in the soil supply of each locality [1], but optimal conditions are needed in the soil and the environment. For optimal growth and development of the stevia root system, medium to high fertility soils with high humus content and water storage capacity are required. Reichardt and Timm [1] reported that, at the time of harvest, the edaphoclimatic conditions presented a significant effect on dry stevia leaf yield, steviol glycoside production, and the concentration or assimilation of macronutrients found in plant tissues. Stevia generates great interest in the different productive and economic
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