Effect of Algae Treatment on <i>Stevia Rebaudiana</i> Growth

Abstract

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a small, perennial and herbaceous shrub which originated in Paraguay (South America). Stevia rebaudiana is not native to Hungary but its cultivation and consumption may have many benefits, e.g. to reduce blood pressure and as a non-caloric sweetener. Steviol glycosides, mostly stevioside and rebaudioside A, located in the leaves are about 200–300 times sweeter than sucrose. S. rebaudina cultivation in Hungary would offer many opportunities in healthcare and the sweet industry. With the aim of achieving good green biomass yields, the effect of MACC4 autotrophic and heterotrophic algae strains was investigated by testing them as both leaf and soil fertilizers in the soil of Stevia rebaudiana seedlings and in its aqueous rooting experiments. In one of the later set up, the formation of roots was improved by combining the application of red light and algae treatment.