Evaluating an A-Sexual Wolfberry (Lycium Pallidum)

Medicinal herbs are being imported from China to the United States.  One species is Lycium chinensis (Gogi Berry).  This presents the potential problem of hybridization between a native species, Lycium pallidum (Pale Wolfberry) and the Chinese herb.  It also gives reason to investigate a native species of Lycium that may hold the same value as the Chinese variety.  Value includes taxonomy and history of the plant as well as its medicinal uses among Native Americans and early western settlers.  During the summer of 2010 we searched around the Farmington area to determine the locations where the native plants were most likely to grow.  We concluded that Wolfberry tends to grow in or near natural water drainage, arroyos, and disturbed areas. GPS locations were recorded and mapped and soil samples were taken to determine soil characteristics.  During summer 2011, efforts were aimed at determining propagation methods, specifically layering, for the native species in order to establish a working nursery.  Two treatments were used:  1) having the bark scratched to expose the cambium and 2) not scratched. All treatments were under drip irrigation buckets. Data along with pictures were taken regularly. Through preliminary research we observed that layering without scratching yielded better growth than the layering with scratches.  The data were plotted on a chart that shows which treatment the plant will most likely root under. The locations of the Wolfberry plant community will be placed on a map, overlaying the results of the soil analyses. 

Supported by PHS Grants R25 GM048998-13.