Self-compatible stevia varieties, breeding methods therefrom and methods of preparing novel compositions using said varieties

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of SvGn family steviol glycosides content to TSG (Total Steviol. Glycoside) content is at least about 77%. 
     
     
         2 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 1     
       comprising at least one steviol glycoside, 
       providing solvent; 
       contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass; 
       separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         3 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of SvRiGn family steviol glycosides content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 17%. 
     
     
         5 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  the plant of  claim 4 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 4  comprising at least one steviol glycoside,   providing solvent;   contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent o extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass;   separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside.   
     
     
         6 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         7 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of SvXlGn family steviol glycosides content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%. 
     
     
         8 . A process for preparing one or more novel extract from the  Stevia rebaudiana  of  claim 7 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 7  comprising at least one steviol glycoside,   providing solvent;
 contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass; 
 separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside. 
   
     
     
         9 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising a novel extract produced by the process of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of RebM content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%. 
     
     
         11 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 10 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of  Stevia rebaudiana  novel cultivar of  claim 10  comprising at least one steviol glycoside;   providing solvent;   contacting the  Stevta rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass;   separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside.   
     
     
         12 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  cultivar, wherein the percentage ratio of RebO content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%. 
     
     
         14 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 13 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 13  comprising at least one steviol glycoside;   providing solvent;   contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass;   separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside.   
     
     
         15 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         16 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of RebD content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%. 
     
     
         17 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 16 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 16  comprising at least one steviol glycoside,
 providing solvent; 
 contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass; 
 separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside. 
   
     
     
         18 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         19 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of RebN content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%, 
     
     
         20 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 19 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 19  comprising at least one steviol glycoside,   providing solvent;   contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass;   separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside.   
     
     
         21 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one ore more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 19 . 
     
     
         22 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of RehE content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%. 
     
     
         23 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 22 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  of  claim 22  comprising at least one steviol glycoside,   providing solvent;   contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass ith solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass;   separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside.   
     
     
         24 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         25 . A  Stevia rebaudiana  plant, wherein the percentage ratio of RebD, RebE, RebM, RebO and RebN combined content to TSG (Total Steviol Glycoside) content is at least about 1%. 
     
     
         26 . A process for preparing one or more novel extracts from the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 25 , comprising the steps of:
 providing plant biomass of the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant of  claim 25 , comprising at least one steviol glycoside,   providing solvent;   contacting the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass with solvent to extract at least one steviol glycoside from the plant biomass;   separating the  Stevia rebaudiana  plant biomass to obtain one or more novel extracts comprising at least one steviol glycoside.   
     
     
         27 . A consumable, food, or beverage comprising one or more novel extracts produced by the process of  claim 26 .