Behavior of the cultivation of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni in Cuba

The results obtained in the investigations on the cultivation of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni conducted at the Experimental Station of Medicinal Plants in San Antonio de los Baños, Havana province, Cuba, are shown. Under these conditions, it was possible to know by 2 sowing dates, December 2000 and January 2000, that the seed germinates at 5 days, although with a low percentage, and that they can be transplanted 2 months later. Three crops were evaluated in every sowing date, and it was proved that the best was obtained in December, when the yields almost doubled. Some of the pathogens that affected the crop were the Alternaria sp. fungus and the Agromyza sp. insects, besides little affections caused by chrysomelids during the vegetative phase. To control these harmful agents, aqueous extracts 30 percent and 50 percent of foliage of Carica papaya L. were used against the fungus, whereas aqueous extracts of Tabaquina® (Nicotiana tabacum L.) 30 percent and 50 percent were utilized against the insects. It was proved that the higher doses exerted a better control on these plagues. The phytochemical screening evidenced the presence of tripertenes, steroids, carotenes, tannins and flavonoids in the vegetal material collected.