The Role of Growth Regulators in The Multiplication of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni Shoot and Callus Induction in Vitro

The research was conducted to investigate the effect of plant growth regulators on the vegetative multiplication of the Stevia plant shoot and the induction of callus from it. The results indicated that the interaction between 2.0 mg. L-1 BA with 0.5 mg. L -1 Kin gave the highest rate number of shoot with 6.32 branches and the highest average of leaves number Were 9.60 leaves compared to the lowest average for the number of shoot and leaves Were 1.40 shoot and 3.80 leaves respectively. As for the length of the shoot, the interaction between (1.0 mg. L-1 BA and 0.5 mg. L-1 Kin) gave the highest average shoot length 4.31 cm compared to the control which gave 2.20 cm. in connection with the callus induction, the concentration 3 mg. L-1 of NAA gave the highest percentage of callus induction from leaves 100%, and the lowest mean of days that for callus initiation was 9 days compared to the control which reached to 20 days. As for the wet and dry weights of callus tissue, the interaction between 2.0 mg. L-1 NAA and 0.5 mg. L -1BA gave the highest wet weight rate 3.68 g and the average dry weight was 0.31 g compared to the control which gave the lowest rate 0.95 g, 0.08 g respectively.