Induction of shoot development of Stevia rebaudiana Morita II by vitamins and cysteine

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of B vitamins and cysteine on the formation and development of shoots in Stevia rebaudiana (S. rebaudiana) Morita II, without the addition of plant growth regulators. Design/methodology/approach: The starting material consisted of nodal segments, subjected to eight different vitamin treatments. The results were analyzed using mean comparisons and Tukey's test to identify statistical differences. Results: The most effective treatment was treatment number two, which yielded an average of 7.5 shoots per explant, demonstrating its efficiency for multiplication. For explant elongation, treatment five proved to be the most effective. Limitations of the study/implications: This study aims to establish a multiplication protocol with enhanced efficiency; however, a limitation is the transferability of the results to temporary immersion bioreactors. Findings/conclusions: Thiamine and cysteine are two organic compounds that induce multiple sprouting, while nicotinic acid and pyridoxine promote the elongation of Stevia explants. This research represents a significant step towards transferring this knowledge to grassroots technological enterprises.