AGRICULTURAL AND HEALTH-RELATED PERSPECTIVES OF LYCIUM BARBARUM L. INTRODUCTION

Abstract

The introduction of the Lycium barbarum (LbL) plant variety to the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh, considering soil and climate conditions along with phytotechnology of cultivation, resulted in the preservation of its growth and development stages without significant alterations. The plant successfully formed fruits and maintained biochemical content typical of its natural habitat. This suggests that the flora could benefit from the addition of this new, promising plant species, which possesses medicinal and preventive properties, nutritional value for both humans and animals, and potential for enhancing ecological environments through various means such as greening of bare slopes, ornamental gardening, and roadside plantings. Furthermore, LbL exhibits frost resistance, drought resistance, and low agrochemical requirements for soil. The discovery of germanium in the biomass of LbL fruits and leaves, and its correlation with environmental and cultivation conditions, implies that the concentration of this anti-tumor element in the plant material can be regulated.