High rebaudioside c-content stevia plant

Abstract

A high rebaudioside C-content type, non-genetically modified Stevia plant that has a higher content of rebaudioside C than wild-type Stevia varieties, more specifically at least 20% higher content. A method for producing such a high rebaudioside C-content type, non-genetically modified Stevia plant; and dried leaves obtained from such a plant.

1 . A high rebaudioside C-content non-genetically modified  Stevia  plant comprising rebaudioside C at higher content by 20% or more as compared with the wild type  Stevia  species, wherein the ratio of the content of rebaudioside C to the content of total steviol glycoside is 40% or more. 
     
     
         2 . The plant according to  claim 1 , having a rebaudioside C content of 7% by weight or more in a dried leaf. 
     
     
         3 . The plant according to  claim 1 , having a polymorphism shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 in the genome. 
     
     
         4 . A seed of the plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A dried leaf of the plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A tissue culture or a cultured plant cell of the plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The tissue culture or the cultured plant cell according to  claim 6 , which is an embryo, a meristem cell, a pollen, a leaf, a root, a root apex, a petal, a protoplast, a leaf section and a callus. 
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a high rebaudioside C-content  Stevia  plant comprising rebaudioside C at higher content by 20% or more as compared with the wild type  Stevia  species, the method comprising a step of crossing a  Stevia  plant according to  claim 1  with a second  Stevia  plant. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the second plant is a high rebaudioside C-content non-genetically modified  Stevia  plant comprising rebaudioside C at higher content by 20% or more as compared with the wild type  Stevia  species, wherein the ratio of the content of rebaudioside C to the content of total steviol glycoside is 40% or more. 
     
     
         10 . An extract of the plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A medicament, a flavor or a food or beverage comprising the extract according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a rebaudioside C-containing extract, comprising obtaining an extract from the plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing rebaudioside C, comprising purifying rebaudioside C from the rebaudioside C-containing extract according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing a medicament, a flavor or a food or beverage, comprising mixing an extract obtained by the method according to  claim 12  with other component(s). 
     
     
         15 . A method of screening for a high rebaudioside C-content  Stevia  plant, comprising identifying a polymorphism shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 in the genome of a test plant. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising measuring a content of rebaudioside C in a leaf tissue.