Abstract

Stevia rebaudiana Bert. (Asteraceae) commonly known as a natural sweetener, is a zero calorie value natural alternative source to traditional sugar (sucrose). It is native from Paraguay and Southern Brazil, but is now cultivated on a commercial scale in other countries. S. rebaudiana has also been used as a medicinal plant to cure many diseases like obesity and hypertension. In its leaves have a significant source of diterpene steviol glycosides that are about 300 times sweeter than sucrose. Recent studies have displayed a high degree of variability in sweetening level and composition due to the heterogeneous populations obtained through propagation by seed. Although, there are available several reports of S. rebaudiana micropropagation, the need to establish an efficient protocol for the propagation of plants with special natures is recognized. In this study was established a protocol for micro-propagation from nodal segments of the variety Morita II.