In vitro ESTABLISHMENT AND MULTIPLICATION OF Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni, ‘Eirete’ VARIETY

Abstract

The in vitro multiplication of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni cv. Eirete was carried out, with the aim of determining the best cultivation conditions for their establishment and emission of multiple buds, and of designing a strategy for their micropropagation. For the in vitro establishment, stem sections of ? 1.5 cm, with two knots, were selected as explants; they were pre-disinfected in Captán® solution (3.0 gr L^-1) in agitation for 15 minutes, followed by immersion in ethylic alcohol (70 % v/v) for 5 min. Later, under aseptic conditions, they were disinfected with NaClO (5% v/v) for 10 minutes, followed by two washes with sterilized distilled water (SDW). The explants were established in a vertical and horizontal position in the Murashige and Skoog basal medium (1962) supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), in concentrations of 0.0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg L^-1. The variables number of buds, vigor and size of these, were affected by the treatments. The Tukey means analysis showed significant differences in number of buds, directly proportional to the concentration of BAP, and,inversely related to their aspect and vigor. Determining the appropriate concentration of BAP for the in vitro establishment and induction of multiple buds is the beginning of a strategy for the micropropagation of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni spp.