Micropropagaion de Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, un endulzante natural a traves de explantes con meristemos pre existentes

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves are source of stevioside and rebaudioside, non-caloric sweetener substances. Seed and cutting estevia propagation are difficult due to seed sterility and small size plant. To evaluate shoot proliferation, in vitro-established estevia shoots were cultured in ½ MS with five (0.0, 2.22, 4.44, 8.88 and 17.6 µM) BAP levels. Afterwards, proliferated shoots were cultured on ½ MS with five NAA levels (0.0, 2.69, 5.37, 10.74 and 21.48 µM) to evaluate shoot rooting. Finally, non-rooted shoots, in vitro-rooted shoots and non-rooted shoots treated with a 0.4% NAA powder were transferred to ex vitro conditions. All experiments were distributed using a complete randomized design. The data indicated that BAP treated shoots showed a higher rate of shoot proliferation. An 87% of rooting and higher number of roots per explant was achieved with 10.74 µM of NAA. Non-rooted shoots transferred directly from Stage II showed the best survival rate.