Nigella is a valuable economically useful crop (literature review)

The most important task for the sustainable development of modern agriculture is to increase the biological diversity of cultivated crops. In recent years, due to global climate change, the possibilities of using more thermophilic crops in new agro-ecological zones have expanded. The problem of increasing the biological diversity of vegetable products largely depends on the introduction of non-traditional plant species, with a simultaneous assessment of the initial material for its use in economically useful purposes and the creation of varieties and hybrids adapted to local conditions. In this regard, Nigella L. is of great interest among rare plant species. It is one of the most famous spicy-aromatic crops in the Mediterranean and Central Asia, possessing a wide range of biologically active compounds and unique medicinal properties. The review article provides information on the origin, biological characteristics and breeding of the culture. A brief review of food, medicinal and other economically useful properties is given, as well as the main elements of the technology for growing nigella are considered. It is shown that the cultivation of this culture will provide an opportunity to expand the range of non-traditional plants and be a promising renewable source of valuable plant raw materials, which will find application in various fields: in agriculture, in the food, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetic industries, as well as in ornamental gardening.