Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVI, Issue 1
Written by Vasilica LUCHIAN, Roxana CICEOI, Minodora GUTUE
Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) is widely used as food and medicine in Asian countries and recently had a dramatic gain in popularity on American and European continents. Due to their complex composition and recommendations in traditional Chinese Medicine, goji berry is also one of the most studied species in the recent years. The species grow wild in Romania, being appreciated for its bush density for hedges and fences. Initially, imported L. barbarum varieties were used by goji berry growers for commercial plantations, while in the last year five new varieties were homologated. The morpho-anatomical structure of leaves and flowers of the wild and cultivated goji berry from the Bucharest area was compared, to determine important traits that could be relevant for goji breeders but also for taxonomists. Morphological differences were found regarding the leaves shape, position, and leaves width. The wild L. barbarum has cuticle-covered leaves, highly developed vascular bundles and vascular bundle sheaths were present in the mesophyll. The palisade cells appeared to be very large. These characteristics of the leaf’s anatomy are also relevant in the context of biotic stressors, as eriophyid mites, that are one of the most important pests of goji berry shrubs.
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