Impact studies from different factors on root development from Stevia rebaudiana bertoni

The demand for an alternative and a high potency sweetener to substitute sugar increases year in year out, more so as a high percentage of the world population becomes increasingly diabetic. The alternative natural sweetener at hand has been Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, a plant species, native to Paraguay and a member of the family compositae. Stevia is usually propagated by stem cuttings due to low percentage (10 %) seed germination, thus limiting large scales cultivation. To cultivate this crop en mass therefore, there is need to evolve efficient rooting techniques. Influences of irradiation from light, and hormones on rooting have been reported. The rooting efficacy in stem cuttings of this crop under varying light wavelengths, dark and hormone factors was investigated. Evaluated parameters include- (i) day of root emergent, (ii) percentage of rooted cuttings, (iii) average number, (iv) length and (v) width, of roots. Analysis of variance at p<.05 revealed that the number, length and width, of roots differed significantly in each case at p<0.000. Light irradiation was highly effective and a necessary factor for rooting in stems cuttings of this crop. The red light-IBA combined factors served best in stem micro-cutting practice and facilitation of effective mass cultivation in stevia crop.