EXPERIMENTAL CULTIVATION OF GOLDEN ROOT (RHODIOLA ROSEA) IN THE PROVINCE OF TRENTO

Rhodiola rosea (Golden Root) is a perennial, herbaceous Alpine plant, rich in active compounds (phenylpropanoids and phenylethanoids) with anti-stress properties. Between 2004 and 2010, field trials were carried out in the province of Trento by transplanting plants obtained from seed collected in Alpine wild populations. Different field managements were compared at various altitudes (1000 and 1500 m a.s.l.; doses of organic manure 1-2 t/ha; stand densities 4-6.7-10 plants/m2). Roots samples were harvest after 2, 3, 4 and 5 years of cropping according to trial and location. The best dried yield were obtained by the trials carried out at altitudes >1000 m a.s.l., after 4 or 5 years of cropping (927-1236 g/m2). No difference emerged using two doses of organic manure (313 g/m2) and the relative best productions were obtained adopting the thicker stand densities (+/-300 g/m2). On average after 5 years of cropping the content of salidrosides and rosavins was about 1% each.