Abstract
Leaf is the main economic part of stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), hence production of more leaf biomass with higher steviol glycosides is the main criterion for crop performance. A field experiment was conducted during 2009 and 2010 to assess the effect of pinching on growth, yield and quality of stevia. The experiment consisted of eight treatments of pinching; six treatments were executed at 20, 30 and 40 days after transplanting (DAT) at 10 and 20 cm height (main branches only), one at 40 DAT (main + secondary branches) at 20 cm height and one control (no pinching). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Pinching treatments significantly affected number of leaves, branches per plant, plant spread and leaf yield, as compared with the control. Stevia plants pinched at 40 DAT (main + secondary branches) at 20 cm height recorded significantly higher number of leaves plant−1 (213), fresh leaf weight (93.8 g plant−1) at first harvest and 27.7 % higher total leaf dry biomass as compared with control. This treatment also recorded higher net returns (Rs. 1,86,998 ha−1) and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio because of higher production of leaf biomass as compared with other treatments. Steviol glycosides (stevioside and rebaudioside–A) were not affected significantly by pinching treatments. Interaction effects of years and pinching treatments were significant for all the growth traits and yield during both the harvests. We conclude that pinching enhances leaf biomass and profits in stevia.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Director, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur (HP), India for providing necessary facilities during the course of study. The authors are also thankful to Mr Sushil Kumar and Ms Vijay Lata Pathania, technical assistants, for field management and chemical analysis. Financial grant from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, India for undertaking this study is gratefully acknowledged. This is IHBT Publication No. 2315.
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Kumar, R., Sharma, S. & Sharma, M. Growth and yield of natural-sweetener plant stevia as affected by pinching. Ind J Plant Physiol. 19, 119–126 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-014-0085-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-014-0085-8