Estrategia para la propagación in vitro de Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

In vitro multiplication of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni has been described previously in different reference sources. However, the implication of the investigations carried out in the productive scale processes is not informed. The present work was carried out with the objective of establishing a strategy for the in vitro propagation of S. rebaudiana. Studies were carried out on planting, seedling multiplication as well as rooting. The effect of growth regulators at different concentrations was determined in order to increase the production of large-scale seedlings. The in vitro establishment of meristematic apices was achieved with 66.67% explants free of microbial contaminants and 83.33% survival with the use of NaOCl (1% v / v) for 5 min and a previous treatment with Previcure. The treatment with 6-BAP 0.5 + AIB 0.2 mg l-1 was selected for in vitro multiplication, and 76.67% of rooting was achieved with 0.5 mg l-1 of IBA. These results allow to propose a strategy that reduces the time of obtaining apices for the rooting to two weeks. Its approach to a scale production scheme makes it useful for its implementation in the rapid micropropagation of elite clones and the production of plant material of stevia planting on a commercial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]