Plant tissue culture-mediated biotechnological approaches in Lycium barbarum L. (Red goji or wolfberry)

Plant tissue culture has long evolved since its first successful attempt by Gottlieb Haberlandt in 1902, and has then emerged as a powerful alternative approach in the breeding and conservation of various plant species. Extensive utilization of plant tissue culture has been documented in efforts to improve plant production, as well as to conserve and breed endangered and hard-to-propagate plant species through plant biotechnology. Restrictions associated with certain growth requirements, such as geographic, seasonal, and climatic limitations, could be overcome through plant tissue culture, hence enabling the mass propagation of plant species all year round. In this article, studies on various plant biotechnological approaches to breed Lycium barbarum L. (red goji) through plant tissue culture are reviewed to highlight the efficiency and usefulness of the plant tissue culture technique on red goji, summarizing the importance of biotechnology in plant studies.