Stevia plant named ‘LOSTE1517’

Abstract

A new and distinct Stevia cultivar named LOSTE1517 which is characterized by the combination of a compact plant size, vigorous growth, improved cold tolerance, a high concentration sweetening compounds in the foliage, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Stevia plant named LOSTE1517, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of LOSTE1517 grown in a greenhouse in Mariahout, the Netherlands. This plant, grown in an 11 cm nursery container, is approximately 8 weeks old from a rooted young plant.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of LOSTE1517.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical inflorescence and flowers of LOSTE1517.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(4) With the exception of the inflorescence and flower descriptions, the following observations and measurements made in January of 2018 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 8 week old LOSTE1517 plants grown in 11 cm nursery pots in a greenhouse in Mariahout, the Netherlands. Plants were produced without supplemental light, under shade cloth, using drip irrigation at regular intervals, and fertilized as required using a fertilizer with an analysis of 18-18-18-5. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

(5) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. LOSTE1517 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

(6) A botanical description of LOSTE1517 and comparisons with the parent plants and most similar commercial Stevia cultivar known to the inventor are provided below. Plant description: Growth habit.Perennial; broad upright. Plant shape.Compact, ovate. Average height from base to top of foliage.22.0 cm. Average height from base to top of the floral plane.21.7 cm. Average spread.Average of 13.1 cm. Growth rate.Moderate. Plant vigor.Moderate. Propagation details.Asexual propagation is accomplished by both softwood stem cuttings and also by mericloning. Time to initiate roots.After deflasking the micropropagule, approximately 15 days are required for the propagule to initiate roots at 20 degrees Celsius. Time to produce a marketable 17 cm potted plant.Approximately 14 weeks. Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.Neither resistance nor susceptibility to typical Stevia rebaudiana pests and diseases has been observed. Environmental tolerances.Adapt to at least USDA Zones 11 and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; low tolerance to wind. Root system: General.Moderately dense rooting. Dimensions, mature roots.18.0 cm long with a diameter of 0.1 cm, on average. Texture.Non-fleshy; slightly fibrous. Color.Greyed-yellow, nearest to a mixture of RSH 161B and 161C. Stems: Branching habit.Main stems grow from the base, freely branching with lateral branches. Number of main stems per plant.1. Number of lateral branches per plant.6. Appearance and shape.Rounded. Length of lateral branches.11.9 cm. Diameter of lateral branches.Averaging 0.175 cm at the widest point. Internode length on lateral branches.3.5 cm. Luster.Moderately glossy. Attitude of lateral branches.Average angle is approximately 30 degrees from vertical. Strength.Moderately strong. Color, juvenile.Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Color, mature.Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Color at internodes.Yellow-green, RHS 144A. Color of oldest wood.Yellow-green, a mixture of RHS 146C and 146D. Pubescence.Stems are densely covered with a soft pubescence; average length of hairs is 0.1 cm; hairs are colored white to green-white, a mixture of RHS NN155B and 157D. Foliage: General description.Foliage is edible with a very sweet taste due to the high concentration of steviosides. Arrangement.Opposite. Division.Simple. Number of leaves per lateral branch.8. Lamina.Dimensions 4.6 cm long and 1.6 cm wide, on average. Shape Oblanceolate to obovate. Aspect Slightly curved downwards. Apex Acute to bluntly acute. Base Long attenuate. Margin Serrate. Pubescence, adaxial surface Moderately to densely covered with very short appressed hairs to approximately 0.3 mm in length; hairs colored white to green-white, RHS NN155B to 157D. Texture and luster of adaxial surface Slightly glossy. Pubescence, abaxial surface Moderately to densely covered with very short hairs to approximately 0.3 mm in length; hairs colored white to green- white, a mixture of RHS NN155B and 157D. Texture and luster of abaxial surface Very slightly glossy. Color Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 137B and 137C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface Green, RHS 137D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface Nearest to in between green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface Yellow-green, RHS 147B. Venation Pattern Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface Yellow-green, RHS 146B. Color, abaxial surface Yellow-green, RHS 146B. Sheath.Not sheathing. Petiole.Length Average of 0.25 cm. Width Petioles are flattened; average horizontal width is 0.2 cm and the average vertical width is 0.125 cm. Texture Pubescent. Moderately covered with very short hairs to approximately 0.3 mm in length; hairs colored white to green-white, a mixture of RHS NN155B and 157D. Luster Slightly glossy. Strength Moderately strong. Color, adaxial surface Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Color, abaxial surface Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Dry weight of glycosides.Stevioside 38.4 mg/g. Rebaudioside A 59.8 mg/g. Others 8.6 mg/g. Total steviol glycosides 106.8 mg/g. Inflorescence: Inflorescence arrangement.Terminally and axially borne capitula in a compound cyme. Natural flowering season.Autumn into winter. Time to flower.10 months. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.1 capitula, axially or terminally. Quantity of flowers per plant.1 capitula. Quantity of flower buds per plant.9 capitula. Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant.10 capitula. Inflorescence height.1.2 cm. Inflorescence diameter.1.0 cm. Peduncle.Length 0.6 cm. Diameter 0.08 cm. Strength Moderately strong. Texture Moderately to densely covered with a soft pubescence; hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Luster Matte. Color Yellow-green, RHS 144B. Flower buds: Shape.Oblanceolate. Height.0.6 cm. Diameter.0.1 cm. Texture.Moderately pubescent with very short hairs, colored yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145D. Luster.Matte. Color.Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C. Flower: Flower type.Composite; capitula. Flowering habit.Moderately flowering. Aspect.Upright to slightly outward. Fragrance.None. Flower longevity.One week, on average. Persistence.Persistent. Disc diameter.0.15 cm. Receptacle shape.Inverted triangular. Receptacle height.0.05 cm. Receptacle diameter.0.05 cm. Receptacle color.Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. Ray florets.None present. Disc florets.Quantity of florets per capitula Five. Shape Tubular. Arrangement Radial symmetry; one whorl; florets are unfused. Attitude Upright. Length 1.0 cm. Diameter, including stigmas 0.6 cm, on average. Diameter, excluding stigmas 0.5 cm, on average. Color, upper and lower surfaces White, in between RHS 155C and 155D. Apex Acute. Base Fused into a tube. Margin Entire; not undulated. Texture and luster, upper surface Smooth, velvety and matte. Texture and luster, lower surface Smooth, velvety and matte. Color, when opening, upper surface White, nearest to NN155D; throat is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D; tube is colored slightly darker, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B and 145C. Color, when opening, lower surface White, nearest to NN155D; throat is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D; tube is colored slightly darker, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B and 145C. Color, when fully opened, upper surface White, nearest to NN155D; throat is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D; tube is colored slightly darker, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B and 145C. Color, when fully opened, lower surface White, nearest to NN155D; throat is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D; tube is colored slightly darker, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B and 145C. Venation, when fully opened, upper surface White, nearest to NN155C; throat is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D; tube is colored slightly darker, nearest to RHS 145B. Venation, when fully opened, lower surface White, nearest to NN155C; throat is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D; tube is colored slightly darker, nearest to RHS 145B. Involucre; phyllaries.Arrangement Rotate; one whorl around the disc. Quantity Five. Length 0.7 cm. Width 0.2 cm. Shape Narrow elliptic. Apex Acute. Base Cuneate. Margin Entire. Texture, upper surface Very sparsely pubescent; average length of hairs is 0.05 cm; color is green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Texture, lower surface Moderately pubescent; average length of hairs is 0.05 cm; color is green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Luster, upper surface Matte. Luster, lower surface Matte. Color, upper surface Green, RHS 138A. Color, lower surface Green, RHS 138A. Pedicels.Length 0.2 cm. Diameter 0.08 cm. Attitude; angle to the peduncle 15 degrees. Strength Moderately strong. Texture Densely covered with a soft pubescence; hairs with an average length of 0.1 cm; color of hairs is green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Luster Matte. Color Yellow-green, RHS 146B. Reproductive organs: Androecium.Stamen quantity 5. Filament length 0.3 cm. Filament color Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145D. Anther shape Linear. Anther length 0.15 cm. Anther width 0.03 cm. Anther color Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 153D. Pollen, presence Low. Pollen color Yellow, nearest to 11D. Gynoecium.Pistil quantity One. Pistil length 0.7 cm. Style length 0.5 cm. Style color White, nearest to RHS NN155D. Stigma shape Cleft, decurrent. Stigma length 0.2 cm. Stigma diameter 0.6 cm. Stigma color White, nearest to RHS NN155C. Ovary color Yellow-green, RHS 144C. Seed and fruit: Not observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

(7) Plants of the new cultivar LOSTE1517 may be distinguished from its seed parent, Stevia 3662/12, by the characteristics described in Table 1.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic LOSTE1517 3662/12 Plant habit. More spreading than More erect than 3662/12. LOSTE1517. Rebaudioside A content in 59.8 mg/g. 49.2 mg/g. foliage, dry weight. Stevioside content in 38.4 mg/g. 43.4 mg/g. foliage, dry weight. Total steviol glycoside 106.8 mg/g. 100.5 mg/g. content of foliage, dry weight.

(9) Plants of the new cultivar LOSTE1517 may be distinguished from its pollen parent, Stevia 3668/12, by the characteristics described in Table 2.

(10) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic LOSTE1517 3668/12 Plant habit. Less basal branching. More basal branching. Rebaudioside A content in 59.8 mg/g. 29.8 mg/g. foliage, dry weight. Stevioside content in 38.4 mg/g. 65.8 mg/g. foliage, dry weight. Total steviol glycoside 106.8 mg/g. 104.5 mg/g. content of foliage, dry weight.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR STEVIA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

(11) Plants of the new cultivar LOSTE1517 are most similar to the commercial variety, Stevia rebaudiana Candy (not patented). A comparison of LOSTE1517 with Candy is described in Table 3.

(12) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic LOSTE1517 Candy Phenotypical stability More stable and. Less stable and less and uniformity. uniform uniform. Plant habit. More compact. Less compact. Cold tolerance. Foliage is more cold Foliage is more sensitive tolerant. to cold temperatures. Foliage size. Larger than Candy. Smaller than LOSTE1517. Foliage color. Darker green. Lighter green. Internode length. Shorter than Candy. Longer than LOSTE1517. Rebaudioside A content 18.7 mg/g. 29.8 mg/g. in foliage, dry weight. Stevioside content in 72.8 mg/g. 65.8 mg/g. foliage, dry weight. Total steviol glycoside 94.8 mg/g. 104.5 mg/g. content of foliage, dry weight.