Abstract:
Plants were regenerated from anthers of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni cultured in vitro under defined conditions. Anthers (containing uninucleate microspores were induced to form callus when aseptically cultured on Murashige and Skoog liquid medium supplemented with 0.1 mg.L(-1) and 1 mg.L(-1) BAP. Regeneration of shoots was readily achieved by transferring pieces of callus to fresh solid medium with the same composition. Shoots were induced to form roots upon transfer to medium with 0.1 mg.L(-1) NAA. Plantlets were successfully potted. Citologycal studies of root tips from regenerated plants revealed a normal diploid number of chromosomes (2n=22).