Leaf area index, light interception, growth and steviol glycoside formation of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under field conditions in southwestern Germany.

Publikations-Art

Zeitschriftenbeitrag

Autoren

Munz, S., Präger, A., Merkt, N., Claupein, W., Graeff-Hönninger, S.

Erscheinungsjahr

2018

Veröffentlicht in

Industrial Crops and Products

Band/Volume

111/

DOI

10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.11.021

Seite (von - bis)

520-528

For the optimization of agronomic practices in stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) cultivation in Europe, more knowledge is required concerning the influence of temperate environmental conditions on plant growth and yield of steviol glycosides (SVgly). The objectives of this study were to evaluate growth and SVgly yield of two stevia genotypes with different plant architecture under field conditions in southwestern Germany and to investigate the influence of the different plant architecture on light interception. Two stevia genotypes were grown at two planting dates in 2014 and 2015. Measurements comprised leaf area index (LAI), biomass growth, SVgly yield, and continuous measurements of light interception over a 33-day period. This study demonstrated that high yields of dry leaves (6000–7800 kg ha−1), total SVglys (720–1023 kg ha−1), and rebaudioside A (RA, 220–376 kg ha−1) can be achieved under temperate climate conditions. Under higher radiation and lower precipitation in 2015, LAI was considerably lower, however, final leaf and SVgly yield were not decreased and concentrations of RA were higher. Regressions of LAI on light interception showed large differences with a 95% light interception at an leaf area index of 5.22 compared with 2.83 between genotypes. This study highlights the importance of future studies regarding physiological responses of stevia under dynamic environmental conditions also taking into account genotypic architectural traits in relation to light interception.