Effect of the application of elicitors on the amount of steviol glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Interest in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni as a natural non-caloric sweetener has increased. To cope with biotic and abiotic environmental stresses, plants have developed a defense system that can be triggered by applying stress-simulating substances (elicitors or metabolic modifying factors) that may increase production of secondary metabolites of commercial interest such as steviol glycosides. Elicitors include salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, oligosaccharides, and chitosan, among others. The aim of this research was to analyze the amount of steviol glycosides in S. rebaudiana leaves due to a foliar application of hydrogen peroxide, chitosan and salicylic acid. The best result was obtained with treatment elicited with salicylic acid (0.1 mM)