<i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> (Bert.) Bertoni: Stages of plant development

Abstract

Vegetative and reproductive codes were developed to describe seeds under germination, normal seedlings, seedling growth, plant growth and branching, plant regrowth, flower buds, crop flowering (anthesis), developing seeds, seed dispersion, and senescent plants as V 0 , V 1.i , V 2.i , V 3.i.k , V 4.i.k , R 1.i , R 2.i , R 3.i , R 4.i and R 5.i , respectively. The numerical code attached to both capital letters indicates the stage, and the lower case letters i or k indicate a number or a percentage. Key words: Natural sweetener, plant regrowth, anthesis, seed, seedling, transplant