Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni which belongs to the Asteraceae family is a herbaceous perennial plant and
native to Paraguay. Stevia leaves produce steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudiosides), zero calorie natural
sweetener and may substitute sucrose as well as other synthetic sweeteners, being
200 – 300 times sweeter than sucrose. Adaptation studies in Mediterranean climate
condition of Antalya in Turkey was started four years ago and, initially seed germination
problem was solved using cross-pollination of stevia flowers. The aim of this study
was to determine some plant traits such as plant height, plant weight, number of stem
per plant, leaf yield, leaf/stem ratio, days for flowering, stevioside and rebaudioside
A rates of stevia in the conditions of Antalya. The experiment was carried out in
randomized plots design with four replications for two years. Row spacing and intra-row
spacing applied were 65 cm and 45 cm, respectively. In the experimental plots, drip
irrigation was used and weeding was controlled by using garden tools. No fertilizers
were applied to the plots. Plants were harvested at the beginning of the flowering
time using pruning shears. According to the results, average plant height was found
98 cm, average number of stem per plant was found 9, average plant weight value was
recorded as 720 g, average leaf/stem ratio was 1.03, average green leaf yield per
hectare was found 8.6 tonnes, average days for flowering was 160 days, stevioside
and rebaudioside A rates was found as 8.2% and 3.5%, respectively. In conclusion,
stevia could be cultivated successfully in the conditions of Antalya as a perennial
crop.
References:
[1] Yadav, A. K., Singh, S., Dhyani, D., Ahuja, P. S. (2011), Canadian Journal of
Plant Science, 91: 1 – 27.
