Stevioside content of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni grown in East Paraguay

The amount of the sweetener stevioside in leaves of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert oni) Bertoni was investigated with regard to the morphological characterist ics of plants grown in the Minga Guazu region of East Paraguay. Seedlings w ere taken from the region of Yby Ya'u (northeastern Paraguay) which is cons idered one of the most productive areas of the country. The quantitative de termination of stevioside was carried out on dried leaves from plants of 16 different plots, using a new analytical method based on an HPLC/ELSD (Evap orative Light Scattering Detector) coupled system. The average levels of st evioside varied from 43.6 to 98.9 g kg(-1). The results indicate that envir onmental and agronomic factors have more influence on stevioside production than the growth habit.