ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the origin and distribution, nutritional composition, medicinal values, climatic requirement, soil requirement, cultivated varieties and post-harvest management of rhubarb. The medicinal rhubarb consists of dried rhizome and roots of Rheum officinale Baillon, Rheum palmatum, of related species grown in China, of Rheum emodi or Rheum webbianum which is native to India, Pakistan or Nepal. Rhubarb can be grown in all kinds of soil but well-drained, highly fertile soils rich in organic matter are best suitable for its cultivation. Many consider rhubarb as a fruit as it is used as a dessert or an ingredient in sweet dishes due to its unique sweet taste, but botanically, it is considered a vegetable. A clean planting site should be used for the cultivation of rhubarb since no herbicide is registered for controlling weeds in this crop. Tarnished plant bug pierce the stalk with their mouthparts and cause wilting and distortion of the leaves.
