Impact of Growth medium on Yield and Biochemical Characteristics of Rheum rhabarbarum L.

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Nutrition and Productivity, G.S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia

2 Laboratory of Plant Productivity and Nutrition, G.S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems, National Academy of Sciences Republic of Armenia

3 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Republic of Iran

4 Department of Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Republic of Iran

10.22059/ijhst.2025.386351.974

Abstract

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.) is a widely consumed vegetable valued for its vibrant red stalks and tart flavor. This study investigates the impact of hydroponic systems on rhubarb's growth, yield, and biochemical composition. Plants grown in hydroponic (volcanic slag and volcanic slag mixed with gravel medium) demonstrated a significant increase in both fresh and dry weight, with yields 2.6–6.0 times greater than those grown in traditional soil, particularly in June and July. Hydroponically grown rhubarb also produced 1.6–1.8 times more petioles per plant, each with 1.6 times the fresh weight and 1.1 times the dry weight of soil-grown petioles. In addition, hydroponic media enhanced the levels of plant extracts (1.2–3.2 times), total flavonoids (1.4–3.7 times), and total phenols (1.2–4.0 times) compared to soil-grown plants. DPPH antioxidant activity was also superior in hydroponically grown rhubarb, particularly in the mixture of volcanic slag and gravel medium, which exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. According to FRAP analysis, soil-grown plants recovered more iron, followed by those in volcanic slag. Hydroponic plants grown in volcanic slag showed significantly higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, and ferulic acid compared to those grown in the mixture of volcanic slag and gravel. However, quercetin content was similar between soil and volcanic slag-grown plants. These findings suggest that hydroponic systems, especially those using the volcanic slag medium, hold promise for cultivating rhubarb enriched with health-promoting compounds.

Keywords

International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 31 July 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 December 2024
  • Revise Date: 23 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 26 May 2025

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