Genus and species: Stevia rebaudiana.

Variety denomination: ' SW 227'

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Plant Patent Application No. 14/999,118, filed on March 31, 2016, which is incorporated in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stevia rebaudiana is a plant species in the sunflower (Asteraceae) family, which has naturally sweet leaves. The active compounds that impart the sweet flavor to stevia leaves are steviol glycosides. The most common steviol glycosides are stevioside and rebaudioside A, both of which have up to 250 to 400 times the sweetness of sugar.

Stevioside tends to be more prevalent in unimproved lines of stevia leaves than rebaudioside A. The development of new varieties of Stevia rebaudiana with higher levels of rebaudioside A than stevioside is desirable for use as a sugar substitute.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Stevia rebaudiana, the 'SW 227' line, which has high plant vigor characterized by extensive stooling and branching; an excellent sweet leaf taste with very low bitterness and aftertaste; and leaves having an average rebaudioside A content of 10.7 %. Table 1 provides averaged stevioside data for samples of the dry leaves of the ' SW 227' line.

Plant Vigor: The ' SW 227' line was found to have much greater stooling

(branching from the ground) and much greater branch numbers in comparison to the majority of the plant population from which the line was derived.

Leaf Taste: The leaves of the 'SW 227' line were found to have an excellent sweet taste in comparison to a majority of the plant population from which the line was derived and very little bitterness and aftertaste in comparison to most stevia varieties. Dry Leaf Yield: The 'SW 227' line producing 5500 kg/ha (~ 4907 lb/ac) of dry leaf yield based on six months growth (April to September) at Ontario, Oregon, USA in 2015.

Rebaudioside A content: In 2015, the leaves of the ' SW 227' line were found to have a high percentage of rebaudioside A at 10.7 % (Table 1).

Stevioside content: The leaves of the ' SW 227' line were found to have a low percentage of stevioside at just 1.4 % (Table 1).

Steviol Glycosides: The leaves of the 'SW 227' line were found to have high levels of total steviol glycosides at 13.3 %, with rebaudioside A accounting for 80.4 % of the total steviol glycoside content in the leaves (Table 1).

Ratio of rebaudioside A to stevioside content: The ratio of rebaudioside A to stevioside in the leaves of the 'SW 227' line was found to be high at 7.6 (Table 1).

Table 1

The ' SW 227' stevia line was asexually reproduced from root cuttings derived from a single Stevia rebaudiana plant that was selected on October 5, 2014, at Ontario, Oregon and which was grown outdoors under full sunlight. The parent plant was grown in 2013 from seed derived from a cross between the Stevia rebaudiana clone known as 'selection 395' (unpatented) and the 'SW 129' stevia line (patent pending).

The selection of the ' SW 227' line was based on evaluations of plant vigor, particularly plant stooling and branching; leaf taste; and rebaudioside A content.

The 2015 leaf harvest period in Ontario, Oregon for the 'SW 227' line was a single harvest in the fall or multiple harvests throughout the summer to early fall. Plant yield and leaf quality of the ' SW 227' line was confirmed throughout 2015 in Ontario, Oregon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new ' SW 227' line have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish the 'SW 227' line as a new and distinct cultivar of a Stevia plant:

1. Exceptional stooling and branching morphology of the plant

2. High plant vigor;

3. High plant yield;

4. Late flowering;

5. Excellent sweet flavor to the leaves with very little bitterness and aftertaste;

6. Leaves having an average rebaudioside A content measured at 10.7 %;

7. Leaves having an average stevioside content measured at 1.4 %;

8. Leaves having an average ratio of rebaudioside A to stevioside of measured at 7.6;

9. Leaves having an average total steviol glycoside content measured at 13.3 %;

10. Leaves having an average percentage of rebaudioside A to total steviol

glycosides measured at 80.4 %; and

11. Approximately 5500 kg/ha of dry leaf yield based upon six months of growth at Ontario, Oregon, in 2015.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as is possible in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the 'SW 227' line. The plants depicted in the accompanying photographs are approximately one year old.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a fully mature ' SW 227' Stevia plant near the end of the plant's first growing season. The photograph shows the plant from roots to top of the plant.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of a top view of a ' SW 227' Stevia plant. The photograph shows the plant's strong stooling habit. FIG. 3 is a color photograph of a top view of a ' SW 227' Stevia plant. The photograph shows the plant's extensive branching.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of the leaves of a ' SW 227' Stevia plant

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of a single leaf of a ' SW 227' Stevia plant. The photograph includes the dimensions of the leaf.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of the flowers of an ' SW 227' Stevia plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Stevia plant known as ' SW 227.' Plant observations were made October 2015, on mature one year old plants grown in a field in Ontario, Oregon in natural light. The ' SW 227' line has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where characteristics, such as dimensions, sizes, colors, and other such characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages and that such approximations are not intended to be limiting. It is also to be understood that the phenotype of the variety may be altered by changes with environment, such as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions, and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007.

Botanical classification:

Stevia rebaudiana cultivar ' SW 227' .

Parentage: ' SW 227' stevia line was derived from a 2013 cross between the Stevia rebaudiana clone known as 'selection 395' (unpatented) and the 'SW 129' stevia line (patent pending).

Seed parent: ' Selection 395' cloned by Clinton C. Shock and rooted in Ontario, Oregon.

Pollen parent: 'SW 129' stevia line described and claimed in commonly owned U.S. Plant Patent Application No. 14/757,095, filed on November 17, 2015.

Plant (description based on FIGS. 1, 2, and 3): Type. Perennial in climates with mild winter temperatures.

Form and habit. Multiple branching bush.

Height (from top of soil). 75 cm.

Width (including flowers). 60 cm.

Number of nodes on main stem. Varies.

Stooling: Prolific branch generation from subsurface root material.

Plant (description based on FIGS. 2 and 3):

Number of basal buds. Many.

Harvest cycle: Single fall or multiple throughout the summer to early September. Leaves (description based on FIGS. 4 and 5):

Length. ~ 8 cm.

Width. ~ 2 cm.

Arrangement. Opposite.

Shape. Lanceolate, with 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm serrations 1/3 the length of a leaf. Apex descriptor . Acute.

Base descriptor. Cuneate.

Margin descriptor. Serrate.

Color, mature foliage.

Upper surface . RHS137C.

Lower surface . RHS 137C .

Color, veins. RHS 139C.

Texture, mature foliage.

Upper surface . Smooth.

Lower surface. Slight pubescence.

Petiole length. ~ 0.2 cm.

Petiole diameter. ~ 0.02 cm.

Petiole texture.

Upper surface: Slight pubescence.

Lower surface: Slight pubescence.

Pubescence color.

Upper surface. RHS 139C. Lower surface. RHS 139C.

Stevioside content. 1.4 %

Rebaudioside A content. 10.7 %, with up to 14.3% observed.

Rebaudioside A as a percentage of total steviol glycosides. 80.4 %.

Ratio of rebaudioside A to stevioside. 7.6.

Total steviol glycosides. 13.3%, with up to 18.3 % observed.

Leaf harvest period. A single harvest in fall or multiple harvests throughout summer to early fall in Ontario, Oregon.

Stem:

Length (excluding inflorescence). Varies to 75 cm.

Internode length. Varies.

Texture. Pubescent.

Color. RHS 145B.

Flowers (description based on FIG. 6):

Inflorescence type. Panicle.

Petal color. RHS N155D.

Petal length. - 0.6 cm.

Petal width. - 0.1 cm.

Bloom period. September to December at Ontario, Oregon, with protection from freezing weather required after September.

Arrangement. Composite.

Shape. Cluster.

Fragrance. None.

Number of flowers per capitulum. 5.

Peduncle:

Color. RHS 145B.

Length (cm). Varies.

Diameter. -0.15 cm.

Aspect. Perpendicular.

Texture. Pubescent. Pedicles:

Color. RHS 145B.

Length (cm): Varies.

Diameter: ~ 0.03 cm.

Aspect. 45 degrees.

Texture. Pubescent.

Disc florets:

Arrangement. Radially symmetrical.

Shape. Tubular.

Phyllaries:

Quantity. 5.

Length. ~ 0.7 cm.

Width. - 0.15 cm.

Shape. Lanceolate.

Apex. Acute.

Base. Fused.

Margin. Overlapping.

Color. RHS 145B.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.

Stamen quantity . 5.

Anther length. ~ 0.4 cm.

Anther color. RHS 199 A.

Gynoecium.

Pistil length. ~ 0.8cm.

Style color. RHS N155B.

Stigma color. RHS N155B

Fruit and Seed Set:

Flowering. Later seed set compared to other known stevia lines.

Seeds. Small black achene (~ 3.0 mm) with pappus (~ 4.0 mm) attached, typical of Stevia rebaudiana. Cold hardiness:

Hardy to -5° C (23 °F) at Ontario, Oregon.

Heat tolerance:

Hardy to a monthly average maximum temperature of 34 °C (93.2 °F) at Ontario, Oregon.