## 3 Results
), while in September, it was highest in those grown in the spacing of 50 cm \(\times\) 30 cm (134.19 mg\(\cdot\)100 g\({}^{-1}\) f.m.). The total concentration of phenolic compounds varied significantly depending on plant spacing and the time of analysis. Stevia grown in the spacing of 30 cm \(\times\) 30 cm was characterised with the highest concentration of phenolic compounds in July (202.11 mg\(\cdot\)100 g\({}^{-1}\) f.m.) compared to 176.86-187.61 mg\(\cdot\)100 g\({}^{-1}\) f.m. in plants grown in the spacing of 45 cm \(\times\) 25 cm and 50 cm \(\times\) 30 cm, which increased to 314.66 mg\(\cdot\)100 g\({}^{-1}\) f.m. in September. The concentration of chlorophyll a + b (Table 6) was similar across all samples, ranging from 1.26 to 1.42 mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) f.m. in June and from 1.47 to 1.58 mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) f.m. in September. Statistical analysis did not show significant differences in carotenoid concentrations in stevia samples, with carotenoid content ranging from 2.68 to 2.80 mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) f.m. in July and from 2.83 to 3.07 mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) f.m. in September. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Spacing 1**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Chlorophyll a + b**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Total Carotenoids**} \\ \cline{3-4}  & & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**(mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) f.m.)**} \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{July} & 50 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 1.34 \(\pm\) 0.11 a & 2.70 \(\pm\) 0.31 a \\ \cline{2-4}  & 45 cm \(\times\) 25 cm & 1.42 \(\pm\) 0.15 a & 2.80 \(\pm\) 0.34 a \\ \cline{2-4}  & 30 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 1.26 \(\pm\) 0.14 a & 2.68 \(\pm\) 0.28 a \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{September} & 50 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 1.47 \(\pm\) 0.16 a & 2.83 \(\pm\) 0.30 a \\ \cline{2-4}  & 45 cm \(\times\) 25 cm & 1.58 \(\pm\) 0.12 a & 3.07 \(\pm\) 0.35 a \\ \cline{1-1} \cline{2-4}  & 30 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 1.54 \(\pm\) 0.21 a & 2.90 \(\pm\) 0.26 a \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} 1  
\end{table} 
Table 6: Concentration of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the leaves of stevia plants grown in different spacings. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Dry Mass**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Reducing Sugars**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Vitamin C**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Phenolic Compounds**} \\ \cline{3-5}  & & & **\% [f.m.]** & & **[mg\(\cdot\)100 g\({}^{-1}\) f.m.]** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{July} & 50 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 24.48 \(\pm\) 3.15 a & 1.42 \(\pm\) 0.13 a & 124.17 \(\pm\) 2.84 c & 187.61 \(\pm\) 10.52 b \\  & 45 cm \(\times\) 25 cm & 24.70 \(\pm\) 2.95 a & 1.08 \(\pm\) 0.09 b & 144.39 \(\pm\) 2.12 a & 176.86 \(\pm\) 11.61 b \\  & 30 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 25.16 \(\pm\) 2.18 a & 0.72 \(\pm\) 0.10 c & 133.30 \(\pm\) 1.98 b & 202.11 \(\pm\) 9.81 a \\ \cline{2-5}  & 50 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 26.55 \(\pm\) 1.44 b & 2.48 \(\pm\) 0.36 a & 134.19 \(\pm\) 2.81 a & 255.33 \(\pm\) 18.94 b \\ \cline{2-5}  & 45 cm \(\times\) 25 cm & 26.66 \(\pm\) 0.99 b & 1.88 \(\pm\) 0.15 b & 125.92 \(\pm\) 1.28 b & 249.53 \(\pm\) 26.51 b \\  & 30 cm \(\times\) 30 cm & 28.67 \(\pm\) 0.45 a & 1.64 \(\pm\) 0.29 b & 126.90 \(\pm\) 1.04 b & 314.66 \(\pm\) 29.49 a \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} 1  
\end{table} 
Table 5: Concentration of dry mass, reducing sugars, vitamin C and phenolic compounds in the leaves of stevia plants grown in different spacings. Figures 6 and 7 show the results of the principal component analysis (PCA) of all analysed characteristics of stevia grown in different spacings. Dry mass content correlated positively with carotenoid content and negatively with vitamin C content. Plant height correlated with the number of leaves, and these biometric characteristics correlated positively with the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoids. The number of shoots correlated with the concentration of potassium, calcium and phosphorus.