Effect of induced hydric stress with PEG 6000 on <i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> cv. ‘KH-IAN/VC-142’ <i>in vitro</i> growth

Abstract

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses, since it limits the production and growth of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni. The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of water stress induced by polyethylene glycol on the in vitro growth of 'KH-IAN / VC-142' S. rebaudiana plants. Growth variables were evaluated on in vitro plants subjected to simulated conditions of hydric stress with PEG 6000 at concentrations of 10 000, 1 000, 100, 10 and 1 ppm. In addition, a control without PEG was included. The variables plant height, root length, fresh and dry mass were negatively affected as the concentration of PEG increased. These results demonstrated the low tolerance of S. rebaudiana 'KH-IAN / VC-142' cultivar to hydric stress and make possible the future application on in vitro selection systems for the discrimination of cultivars genetically improved based on their tolerance to hydric stress Keywords: drought stress, in vitro culture, polyethylene glycol