Photoperiod Response of Landraces and Improved Varieties of Buckwheat from Russia and from the Main Buckwheat Cultivating Countries

Numerous recent investigations have shown that common buckwheat is photosensitive under short-day conditions. A study of buckwheat accessions from global plant genetics resources collection of VIR (N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry) has demonstrated that the strongest photoperiodic response is observed when buckwheat genotypes adapted to cultivation in low latitudes (tropics, subtropics) are cultivated at higher latitudes. This response is expressed in late maturity in plants by their absolute incapacity to produce seeds under long-day conditions. Buckwheat landraces and varieties from Eastern Europe, particularly many Russian ones, are less photosensitive than the Asian varieties. At latitudes 50-60° N, photosensitive genotypes have disappeared and a secondary centre of genetic diversity of buckwheat has developed. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________