Identification of morphological and phenological traits for the characterization of cultivated Lycium barbarum L. plants

• A dual qualitative and quantitative approach was used to evaluate L. barbarum traits. • Growth habit was variable: erect (33.3 %), expanded (39.3 %), and pendulous (27.4 %). • Fruit ripening occurs rapidly in four stages over ∼11.5 days under Mediterranean climate. • Results support traceability, germplasm conservation, and functional food certification. The genus Lycium L. ( Solanaceae ) includes economically important species such as Lycium barbarum , L. chinense , and L. ruthenicum (goji). This study focuses on the morphological characterization of L. barbarum , a recently domesticated species lacking standardized descriptors. We evaluated traits including plant habit, vigor, leaf morphology, floral structure, fruit shape, and ripening stages using both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Growth habits were evenly distributed: 33.3 % were erect, 39.3 % were expanded, and 27.4 % were pendulous. The average leaf area was 166.22 ± 79.66 mm², and discriminant analysis of leaf shape achieved 83 % classification accuracy. Floral traits were consistent, with 94.3 % of plants having five petals and 5.7 % having six petals. Fruit ripened rapidly, completing four stages in ∼11.5 days. These findings highlight key diagnostic traits for developing harmonized descriptors. These traits will support future distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) testing, which is essential for cultivar protection, genebank documentation, and product traceability in the growing global market for functional foods and nutraceuticals.