Characterization of buckwheat (Fagopyrum sp.) collection in Serbia

Abstract

With the aim of optimizing the buckwheat assortment for the region of Serbia, field trials with 161 accessions of Fagopyrum sp. were set up in Backi Petrovac (45° 20' 12" N, 19° 40' 12" E) during 2023. In addition to 148 F. esculentum var. esculentum accessions, the phenotypic characterization of 30 ‘agromorphological characteristics also includes 7 var. emarginatum as well as 4 F. tataricum, 1. dibotrys and 1 F. ocutatum. Characterization of properties was carried out according to ECPGR Descriptors for buckwheat. The experiment, which was set up on May 10, was marked by extreme conditions that included high rainfall at the end of May, high temperatures at the end of June, storm at the end of July and high temperatures at the beginning of August. Such extreme conditions allowed test collection for tolerance to high temperatures and lodging. Within the analyzed collection, significant phenotypic variability was noted for all selected traits. Some of the traits were strongly affected by the extreme conditions such as high temperatures of over 40 °C during the generative phase of plant development which completely destroyed all accessions except F. esculentum, from which 26 were also significantly damaged. Additionally, a large part of the collection (93 accessions) showed a pronounced sensitivity to lodging and as such are not suitable for mechanized harvesting. Nineteen accessions showed partial lodging and they could be used with partial yield reduction.