A recent study explored the efficacy of integrating in vitro clonal micropropagation with hydroponic cultivation to produce Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) plants enriched with bioactive compounds (BACs).
The research demonstrated that specific concentrations of growth regulators in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium effectively stimulated callogenesis and subsequent organogenesis, yielding 5-6 adventitious shoots per explant. Root formation was notably successful, with rates of 80% and 95% achieved using 0.2 mg/L and 0.3 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), respectively. Acclimatization survival rates were higher in hydroponic conditions (89%) compared to soil (70%). Chemical analyses revealed that hydroponically grown rosemary exhibited significantly higher concentrations of total flavonoids, rutin, and quercetin—exceeding soil-grown plants by 1.5, 1.4, and 1.2 times, respectively.
Phenolic acids followed a descending order of chlorogenic acid > rosmarinic acid > gallic acid > caffeic acid, with chlorogenic acid levels surpassing others by up to 2.8 times. Additionally, vitamin C content was 1.3 times higher in hydroponic plants, while β-carotene levels remained consistent across both cultivation methods. Notably, essential oil content in hydroponically grown rosemary was 0.2%, 1.7 times greater than in soil-grown counterparts.
The study concludes that combining clonal micropropagation with hydroponic cultivation produces healthy, genetically uniform rosemary plants with enhanced BAC content. This method holds promise for applications in antioxidant herbal teas, spices, food supplements, and cosmetics, contributing to the functional food and health sectors.
Vardanyan, Anush & Mairapetyan, Stepan & Tadevosyan, Anna & Asatryan, Armenuhi & Matevosyan, Artur & Ghalachyan, Laura. (2025). Pharmacochemical investigation of Rosmarinus officinalis L. cultivated by clonal micropropagation and hydroponic combined method. Functional Foods in Health and Disease. 15. 19-29. https://www.doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v15i1.1526
Source: researchgate.net