A stevia cultivar, designated ‘16265046’, is disclosed. The embodiments of the invention relate to the plant parts of stevia cultivar ‘16265046’, to the plants of stevia ‘16265046’ and to methods for producing a stevia plant produced by crossing the cultivar ‘16265046’ with itself or another stevia variety, including methods using marker assisted breeding. The embodiments further relate to hybrid stevia seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar ‘16265046’ with another stevia cultivar. Twelve highly polymorphic SNPs loci and the corresponding genomic sequences used to identify plant variety ‘16265046’-derived plant materials are also disclosed.

Stevia varieties with a high content of RebM, are disclosed Further provided are methods for producing Stevia plants having a high RebM content by negatively regulating certain genes selecting the resulting plants, and breeding with such plants to confer such desirable Reb M phenotypes to plant progeny.

The present invention relates to a method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration of Stevia plants. In particular, the method involves co-culturing leaf explants with Agrobacterium in a medium comprising acetosyringone and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the dark, callus induction and shoot regeneration in a medium comprising 6-benzylaminopurine, 3-indoleacetic acid, a selective agent and an Agrobacterium eradicant in the dark, and root regeneration in a medium comprising 3-indoleacetic acid in a light/dark cycle. The present invention also relates to the overexpression of SrDXS1 and SrKAH in transgenic plants, resulting in the enhancement of steviol glycosides in the transgenic plants. The present invention further relates to the overexpression SrUGT76G1 in transgenic plants, resulting in higher Rebaudioside A (Reb A) to stevioside ratios in the transgenic plants.

Novel cultivars of Stevia rebaudiana plant, with a novel genetic trait of self-compatibility, and the advantageous use of this genetic trait in Stevia crossing breeding for increasing steviol glycosides production, including food and beverage products and other consumables, are disclosed.

Plants, and methods of generating plants, having an increased content of rebaudioside D and oilier desirable characteristics are disclosed. Rebaudioside D (rebD) has been observed to have desirable sweetening properties, and accordingly, it has been desirable to produce Stevia plant lines, cultivars, and varieties with defined glycoside profiles where rebD is increased in content, either on a total weight basis of Stevia leaves, relative to other glycosides (e.g., rebA, or stevioside), or both.

Stevia cultivars, designated A01, A03, A05, A06, A07 and A08, are disclosed. Plant parts of stevia cultivars, the plants of stevia, methods for producing a stevia plant produced by crossing the cultivars with itself or another stevia variety, hybrid stevia seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar with another stevia cultivar and plant products e.g., glycosides, are within the scope of the invention.

A Stevia extract made from leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant is described. The extract has desired levels of steviol glycosides and is useful in food, beverage, and other consumable products.

A stevia cultivar, designated 16228013, is disclosed. Further embodiments relate to the plant parts of stevia cultivar 16228013, to the plants of stevia 16228013 and to methods for producing a stevia plant produced by crossing the cultivar 16228013 with itself or another stevia variety, including methods using marker assisted breeding. Further embodiments relate to hybrid stevia seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 16228013 with another stevia cultivar. Six highly polymorphic SNPs loci and the corresponding genomic sequences used to identify plant variety 16228013 derived plant materials are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a high rebaudioside M content non-genetically modified stevia plant comprising rebaudioside M at higher content as compared with the wild type stevia species. The present invention also provides a method of producing such a high rebaudioside M content non-genetically modified stevia plant, and a dry leaf obtainable from such a plant.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a stevia plant having a high content of rebaudioside C. The present invention provides a high rebaudioside C-content type, non genetically modified stevia plant that has a higher content of rebaudioside C than wild-type stevia varieties, more specifically at least 20% higher content. The present invention further provides: a method for producing such a high rebaudioside C-content type, non genetically modified stevia plant; and dried leaves obtained from such a plant.