Scientists grow Stevia in Jebel Akhdar

Muscat: Omani researchers at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) have successfully grown a non-diabetic sugar yielding plant — Stevia, commonly known as sweet leaf, in the Al-Manakher area in Al Jabal Al Akhdar.

The initial experiment turned out to be successful and was carried out in the Agricultural Experimental Station (AES) at the SQU, according to a press release.

Dr Salim Ali Al Rawahi, Associate Professor in the Department of Soil, Water & Agricultural Engineering, who led the project, said that Stevia is native to mountainous regions of Paraguay and Brazil. “It is a small green plant bearing leaves which have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 20 to 30 times sweeter than sugar,” he said.

He explained that quality Stevia leaves are a nutritious natural dietary supplement offering numerous health benefits.

“Besides its intense sweetness, various studies have found the leaf to contain proteins, fibre, carbohydrates, iron, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, rutin (a flavonoid), Vitamin A, Vitamin C and an oil which contains other constituents.” The researcher said.

Currently, Stevia is commercially grown in Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Central America, China, Thailand, the United States, Canada, India and some other countries.”

Dr Al Rawahi said that they ordered the seeds of Stevia from a Canadian company in January 2012. “The seeds were first germinated in January 2012 at SQU. At the beginning it took almost a month to successfully get the seeds germinate, but after understanding their specific requirements they could be germinated in four days.” he said.

He confessed that Oman was not a natural habitat for its growth. However, at the AES, the Stevia seedlings were well taken care of in a temperature controlled greenhouse.

Dr Al Rawahi revealed that one of his students, Amna Mahmoud Al Toobi, took care of one the Stevia transplants at her family farm terrace in Al Manakher, as part of her final year project.

“Amna took all the necessary care of the plants from monitoring irrigation, fertiliser application, and plant protection measures particularly for the period from transplanting to harvesting, and taking weekly measurements of the growth rates,” he said.

He also revealed that the plants were harvested this month and the leaf samples are kept deep frozen for preservation.