Rhodiola semenovii Boriss. (Regel and Herder) might be a promising replacement for the well-known but endangered Rhodiola rosea L. In this research, the metabolic profile of R. semenovii, including drug-active and stress-resistant components, was studied in the context of source-sink interactions in situ in the dynamics of growth and development. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and liquid chromatography methods were used. The data obtained allow for assumptions to be made about which secondary metabolites determine the level of stress resistance in R. semenovii at different stages of ontogeny in situ. For the first time, an expansion in the content of salidroside in the above-ground organs, with its maximum value during the period of seed maturation, and a significant decrease in its content in the root were revealed in the dynamics of vegetation. These results allow us to recommend collecting the ground component of R. semenovii for pharmaceutical purposes throughout the seed development stage without damaging the root system.
Keywords: Rhodiola semenovii; ontogenesis; secondary metabolites; source-sink interaction.