Enrichment of
Stevioside and Rebaudioside A in Stevia rebaudiana through Optimal Nitrogen Fertilizer
Application
Kumari Ankita, Biswas Pritom, Kumari Priya and Kumar Nitish
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(12); 40-46;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2012rjbt040046; (2025)
Abstract
Stevia rebaudiana, a member of the Asteraceae family, is widely recognized for its
medicinal properties and its production of steviol glycosides, particularly Stevioside
and Rebaudioside A. Optimizing the production of these compounds is crucial for
providing intense sweetness with minimal caloric content, making Stevia highly popular
in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and agriculture industries. In this study,
we investigated the effect of various concentrations (0, 200, 400, 600 and 1000
kg N/ha) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on plant growth, biomass, chlorophyll content,
carotenoid, stevioside and rebaudioside A. The ideal concentration of N fertilizer
for plant growth was 200 kg N/ha, while higher concentrations had a detrimental
effect on plant vitality.
Plant height was recorded as 26.04 cm and biomass of leaves showed 9.2 g fresh weight
(FW) as well as 3.2 g dry weight (DW). Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid were highest
in lower node leaves and recorded as 9.1mg/g FW, 6.4mg/g FW and 1.3 mg/g respectively.
High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis also revealed that the highest
concentration of stevioside and rebaudioside A was observed in lower node leaves,
followed by middle leaves, upper leaves, stem and root. This study provides important
insights regarding the use of N fertilizers for the cultivation of this medicinal
and industrially important plant.
