Utilization of Micropropagation and Mutation Breeding in stevia Improvement so far-A Critical Review

Author: Tabassum, Jaspreet Kaur Basati, Parbhjot Kaur and Gurdeep Singh

Download PDF

Abstract

Stevia is a perennial herb, widely used as a non-toxic and non-caloricnatural sweetener in many countries around the world as the stevioside extract from the leaves taste 300 times sweeter than cane sugar. The seeds are smaller in size and the germination percentage is very low with a significant problem of low fertility which is primarily a constraint of self-incompatibility. Propagation by seeds does not allow the production of homogeneous populations and generate variability among individuals of a population in important features like sweetening levels and composition. Propagation by seeds does not allow the production of homogeneous populations which generate variability among individuals of a population in important features like sweetening levels and composition. Vegetative propagation is also limiting by the fact that a limited number of plants can be generated from a single plant, therefore is a limiting factor for rapid multiplication. Due to these difficulties, tissue culture is an important alternative for rapid multiplication of stevia plants for enhanced production and along with mutation breeding to develop a new variety with improved characters. Modern techniques such as molecular markers, HPLC can also be explored to speed up breeding programme for higher yield and glycoside content. This review article enlightens use of mutation breeding and tissue culture for stevia improvement so far in order to focus on it as an effective breeding strategy in case of this crop.

Keywords

Stevia, Mutation Breeding, Micro-propagation, Natural non-caloric sweetener

Conclusion

Stevia rebaudiana shows immense potential as an agricultural crop for the development of a high potency sweetener. The steviol glycosides, particularly rebaudioside A, extracted from the leaves of stevia has received great attention as a sugar substitute due to its most desirable sweetness and non-caloric nature. Safety studies conducted indicated the absence of any negative side effects so far after its consumption. High purity stevia extracts are approved for use as a sweetener worldwide. As stevia is self-incompatible with small seed size which showed reduced germination, therefore, development of new stevia genotypes with improved features is more suitable by mutation breeding using both physical and chemical mutagens. This has opened up the way for the development of a new stevia variety enriched with higher SGs, Reb-A which are suitable for more localized cultivation.

References

-

How to cite this article

Tabassum, Jaspreet Kaur Basati, Parbhjot Kaur and Gurdeep Singh (2023). Utilization of Micropropagation and Mutation Breeding in stevia Improvement so far-A Critical Review. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 125-131.