ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 14 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
In Vitro Mass Propagation of Stevia rebaudiana: A Strategy for Sustainable Production of a Key Medicinal Plant
P. Sairkar*, M. K. Chandravanshi, N. P. Shukla and N. N. Mehrotra
Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology, M.P. Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal, India.
Accepted 22 February, 2025
Experiments were conducted for standardization of in vitro culture technique of Stevia rebaudiana, an important non-caloric sweetening herb to explore its potential for micro-propagation and callus culture. Nodal segments of the selected herb as explants were cultured for micro-propagation on MS medium containing 0.1 mg/l N6-benzyl amino purine for shoot initiation. Maximum plantlets (83.2 ± 0.445033) were found in MS medium treated with 3.5 mg/l N6-benzyl amino purine at multiplication stage. Young leaves were placed on MS medium containing 2 mg/l 2-4- Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid +1 mg/1 Kinetin was given best result of callusing. Higher regeneration of plantlets (3.8 plantlets/calli) was obtained by placing callus on MS medium with 5 mg/l BA + 1 mg/l NA. Highest rooting average (11.1 ± 0.264052) was recorded on 1/2MS medium with 100 mg/l activated charcoal. The rooted plantlets were hardened in 1:1:1 ratio of sand: soil: vermicompost and successfully established in soil.
Key words: Stevia rebaudiana, in vitro propagation, regeneration of callus, non-caloric sweetener, medicinal plant, N6-benzyl amino purine, 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.