Tz. Kikindonov
Abstract. There is an increased interest in growing stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) as a source of natural, non-caloric sweeteners in recent years. In the 1980’s, in the former Sugar beet Institute near Shumen our researches on the introduction and growth of stevia have been carried and the optimal technological conditions and in vitro propagation methods have been established. In the present research some results are given of the assessment of origins made in 2011 as initial material for breeding. The productiveness of fresh mass of the whole plants, dry matter after drying, yield as a ratio between dry leaves weight and the fresh mass, the height, the number of shoots or nodes and the percentage of plants with visible signs of Alternaria and Fusarium diseases have been measured.