To cut or not to cut? That is the question in first year harvest of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni production

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is a perennial crop from north Paraguay (humid subtropical climate), belonging to the Asteraceae family. an emerging in Europe (mild cultivated for its steviol glycosides (SG), natural sweeteners that are 300 times sweeter than sucrose which main agronomical and industrial interest of stevia. Recent studies showed it possible cultivate stevia mild climates as economically viable crop. However, lack knowledge on cropping system specific plants, duration cultivation, overwintering impact first-year establishment act disincentive expansion. Harvest management through harvesting first year was investigated agronomic traits over three years production- 15 genotypes south-west France. Two harvest modalities were compared: 2H when plant not harvested 3H year. The performance assessed based on: regrowth rate after winter, SG yield (g/plant) two components content (%w/w) dry leaf biomass (g/plant), profile. cumulative variables, cumulated biomass, also added study obtain overview genotype during cultivation time both modalities. tested wide range response overwintering, but with significant decrease 30 % survival plants (3H). results presented high variability among different genotypes. These significantly impacted by modality, identified No clear tendency revealed or Cumulative variables confirmed previous showing better production non-harvested (2H), at crop-life scale. Our results, genotypes, shed light temperate conditions. They suggest without harvest, allowing crop, yield.