TITLE:
Morphological Changes and Antioxidant Activity of Stevia rebaudiana under Water Stress
AUTHORS:
Shilpi Srivastava, Malvika Srivastava
KEYWORDS:
Stevia, Water Stress, Growth, Antioxidant Enzymes
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.22,
November
22,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Stevia rebaudiana, a herbaceous perennial shrub contains steviol
glycosides, as an alternative source of sugar for diabetic patients. Water
being an integral part plays a vital role in the maintenance of plant life.
Availability of water is one of the limiting factors determining plant distribution
and survival in natural ecosystem. The objective of this study was to
investigate the ability of tolerance of Stevia plants to water stress. Potted plants of Stevia were subjected to different levels of water regimes (100 ml, 200 ml, 300 ml)
per day, whereas control plants were watered daily with about 400 ml
water. Plant height, leaf area, electrolyte leakage and
antioxidant enzyme activity (peroxidase and catalase) were assayed during the
experimental period. All these parameters were severely affected under water
stress condition. Stress treatment caused an increase in electrolyte leakage
compared to control. Plant height decreased under severe stress condition whereas
a sharp increase in antioxidant enzyme activity was observed in stressed plants
as compared to untreated control plants. Our experiment emphasizes the
importance of proper watering schedule for the cultivation of Stevia as an agricultural crop to meet
the challenges for sugar and energy crisis.