Micropropagation in Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)

The shoot apex, leaf, nodal stem and internodal stem of Stevia rebaudiana, a natural substitute for artificial sweetener having glycosides upto 400 times sweeter than sugar, were cultured on 21 different media having different concentrations and combinations of auxins (2,4-D, IBA, NAA) and cytokinins (KIN, BA) supplemented to MS basal medium. Besides these explants the formed callus and developed shoot were also cultured. The tissue culture experiments resulted in establishment of cultures, swelling of explants, elongation of existing shoot, callus formation, caulogenesis, rhizogenesis and regeneration of plantlets, acclimatization of plantlets and ultimately development of micropropagation protocol.