California-based Stevia First Corp. is planning a field scale study using agricultural drones to interrupt stevia’s photoperiod using brief overnight illumination which could produce significant gains in stevia leaf mass and steviol glycoside yields. Under laboratory conditions researchers found that brief overnight illumination of stevia with red LED light can simulate long-day growth and prevent flowering, increasing leaf mass and steviol glycoside content. The results included a doubling of steviol glycosides within several weeks and extrapolated over a full year production increases of more than a five-fold gain of steviol gloycosides.
To receive relevant news stories with summaries provided by GAI Research & Insight, subscribe to Global AgDevelopments, our free weekly enhanced eNews service