Stevia: A Miracle Plant for Human Health

Dr. Ratikanta Maiti is a renowned Botanist of international repute with specialisation n Crop Physiology. He obtained Ph.D and D.Sc in Botany from Calcutta University, India. he worked for 9 years as a Senior Botanist in Jute Agricultural Research Institute, Barrackpore (I.C.A.R.), Calcutta. Then he worked for 10 years as a Senior Plant Physiologist in International Crop Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, India. Then he worked as Professor and Research Scientist in two universities in Mexico for 10 years. He enjoyed Mexican Govt. sponsored Senior National Research Scientist for continuous 18 years. At present, he is an Honorary Consultant (seeds) in Vibha Agrotech Ltd., Hyderabad, India and working on different aspects of physiology of various crops mainly pearl millet, maize, sunflower, cotton, paddy, etc. He won several international awards such as International Scientist Award offered by IBC, Cambridge and Ethnobotanist Award-2003 sponsored by Friends University, U.S.A. and U.N.D.P. He has published over 350 research papers in more than 40 national and international scientific juornals. Also, Dr. Maiti has published more than 20 books namely Advances in Potato Science by Gaurav Society of ARIC, Hisar, India and Sorghum Science, Bean Science, Pearly Millet Science, Peanut Crop, Advances in Chickpea Science, World Fibre Crops by Oxford & IBH Book company, New Delhi and Science Publisher, U.S.A.

Dr. S.S. Purohit (b. July, 1948) obtained M.Sc. (Gold Medal) and Ph.D. in Botany from Udaipur University, Udaipur. He was guest scientist in various foreign universities. He has 30 years of teaching experience of UG and PG students specially Plant Physiology and Biotechnology. He has guided 12 M. Phil and 5 Ph.D. students. He is a well known author of 30 nooks of national and international repute. He has edited an International series entitled: Hormonal Regulation of Plant Growth and Development in Six Volumes and two Volumes have been reprinted by W. Junk Publishers, Holland. Presently he is the Managing Director of Agrobios (India) and Chief Editor Agrobios News Letter.