Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni: The Interaction of Night Interruption on Gas Exchange, Flowering Delay, and Steviol Glycosides Synthesis

Abstract

The Stevia market is estimated to be USD 1.14 billion in 2028 due to its acceptance in the food and beverage industry. Stevia rebaudiana and its two more relevant edulcorants: stevioside (St) and rebaudioside A (Reb-A) can reach 450-fold sweeter than sucrose. The species is considered a long night plant, promoting flowering and shortening vegetative growth. Thus, to increase the leaf area and St and Reb-A increase, we broke the long night with a short light pulse, here called night interruption (NI). In this study, three NI times and two S. rebaudiana genotypes were tested to promote larger vegetative growth, flowering delay, and higher synthesis of steviol glycosides (SvGly). The main goal of this study was to demonstrate that NI increased net photosynthesis (9% to 20%), the internode length (59%), the leaf area (25%), while delays in 4 to 10 days of the flowering phase, impacting in 17% to 25% more St and Reb-A, respectively. Here we describe an inexpensive flowering delay, elongation of vegetative growth, allowing extended harvesting, which could yield four to five annual harvesting of leaves, increasing the production in 21% to 24% more St and Reb-A yield (kg ha−1).

Effect of UV Stress on the Antioxidant Capacity, Photosynthetic Activity, Flavonoid and Steviol Glycoside Accumulation of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

“…The photoperiod during the active growing season was maintained at a light/dark ratio of 16/8, and it was gradually changed to 12/12 10 days before sampling. Day length was shortened to stimulate the flowering process and the production of target components [22,23,28]. Within a week, the plants entered the flowering phase.…”

“…It is known that light conditions are important plant growth and development regulators, and they affect the synthesis of secondary metabolites [24][25][26][27]. For stevia plants, interrupting the night phase with a short pulse of light has been found to provide a simple and inexpensive method for increasing leaf biomass production with increased SG yield [28,29]. Lengthening the dark period promotes flowering and a reduction in vegetative growth, and when artificial supplementary lighting extends the daylight hours, the plant does not bloom [30].…”

Critical Review on Key Approaches to Enhance Synthesis and Production of Steviol Glycosides: A Blueprint for Zero-Calorie Sweetener

“…Delaying the flowering leads to an increase in vegetative growth and biomass of the plant, which is useful as steviol accumulation occurs in a tissue-specific manner in stevia. NI has been shown to increase the yield of harvesting of leaves 4-5 times annually and increase the production of stevioside and Reb A by 21% to 24% (kg ha −1 ) [26]. Different types of LED also affect plant growth and secondary metabolite production.…”

Progress and Prospects of Natural Glycoside Sweetener Biosynthesis: A Review

“…Reb A and mogroside V have been used as sweeteners in black tea, chocolate milk, and natural yogurt . The worldwide consumption of steviol glycosides is predicted to reach 10 254.93 tons by 2027 . Besides, the market demand for glycyrrhizin is increasing not only for the sweet taste, but also because of the pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory and regulating immune system; and the global market size will exceed $13 000 000 by 2028.…”

“…13 The worldwide consumption of steviol glycosides is predicted to reach 10 254.93 tons by 2027. 14 Besides, the market demand for glycyrrhizin is increasing not only for the sweet taste, but also because of the pharmacological effects like anti-inflammatory and regulating immune system; and the global market size will exceed $13 000 000 by 2028. Hence, it is important to achieve largescale production of glycoside sweeteners.…”