ABSTRACT
Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Environmental Sciences, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidhyalaya, Bilaspur-495009, Chhattisgarh, India
15.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 296 15.2 History of Stevia for Its Use as Medicine .................................. 297 15.3 Phytochemicals of Stevia ........................................................... 298 15.4 Clinical Research ....................................................................... 299 15.5 Current Practical Use ................................................................. 300 15.6 Production Considerations ......................................................... 301 15.7 Soil and Fertilizer ....................................................................... 302 15.8 Light ........................................................................................... 302 15.9 Water and Humidity ................................................................... 302 15.10 Temperature ............................................................................. 302 15.11 Plant Care ................................................................................. 303 15.12 Diseases .................................................................................... 303 15.13 Root Rot Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii ..................................... 303 15.14 Stem Rot Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ......................... 305 15.15 Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria alternate ............................... 305 15.16 Leaf Mottling Caused by Virus ................................................ 307
15.17 Bronzing of Leaf and Stunt Plant Growth Caused by Phytoplasma ............................................................................. 307
Keywords .............................................................................................. 307 References ............................................................................................. 308
15.1 INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, in many countries maintaining a healthy diet turned into a challenge for the majority of people. On the other hand, refined sugar consumption has increased rapidly in recent years, resulting in inability to weight management, positive caloric balance, obesity and weight gain. Furthermore, this inadequate dietary habit leads to cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes and dental caries. Considering the overconsumption of refined sugar, a natural non-caloric sweetener may draw the attention of individuals who are suffering from complications associated with high levels of sugar consumption.
