Fagopyrum

The Effect of Location, Cultivar, and Sowing Time on the Growth and Productivity of Buckwheat in Egypt

Mohamed M. Hassona — 2024-03-06

The present study was conducted in Egypt at two different locations Bilbeis City Site (BCS) and Sadat City Site (SCS) during two successive seasons (2018/2019 - 2019/2020) planting cultivars Tartary buckwheat (FT) and common buckwheat (FE) in three planting times (mid-Nov., mid-Jan., and mid-March) to investigating the effect of location, cultivar, and sowing time on the growth and productivity under the Egyptian environmental conditions. The study followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and compared two buckwheat cultivars, FT and FE to separate locations and different planting times in Egypt. Our results showed that planting buckwheat in BCS consistently outperformed those in SCS in terms of growth and productivity attributes. Species FT showed superior growth metrics and productivity over FE in both sites and seasons. In terms of sowing times, mid-March demonstrated optimal productivity with yields of 596 kg/hectare and 576 kg/hectare across two seasons. The study underscores the combined influence of location, cultivar, and sowing time on the growth and productivity of buckwheat in Egypt, reiterating the need for tailored agricultural practices specific to each region and cultivar for enhanced yield of this promising undertilized and neglected crop in Egypt.

Adaptability of Buckwheat in vitro

Svetlana A. Borovaya — 2024-03-06

The research goal was to study the morphogenesis of common buckwheat plantlets obtained using different stressors in vitro. The research object was common buckwheat variety Izumrud – single-node cuttings (1.0-1.5 cm in length; two-three lowest internodes) of the plantlets that were obtained by subculturing on a hormone-free MS medium and of the lines that showed tolerance to CuSO4 Å~ 5H2O (161 and 184 mg/l) at the Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology. Selective media were prepared based on the Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with a zinc salt (ZnSO4 Å~ 7H2O) at concentrations of 808, 909, 1010, 1111, 1212, and 1313 mg/l. To evaluate the morphological characteristics of the studied genotypes, their parameter values were calculated relative to the control and expressed as percentage. The genotypes were compared in the following groups depending on the exposure to a certain stressor: group 1 – the genotypes obtained without exposure to copper, group 2 – the genotypes obtained on the media containing the copper salt at a concentration of 161 mg/l, and group 3 – the genotypes obtained on the media containing the copper salt at a concentration of 184 mg/l. Plants from different groups demonstrated dissimilar growth rates under the toxic conditions caused by the studied concentrations of zinc. The morphological parameter values of the copper-tolerant plants (groups 2 and 3) were significantly higher than those of the plantlets obtained without exposure to copper. The plantlets tolerant to CuSO4 Å~ 5H2O (161 and 184 mg/l) showed a heightened resistance to the selective factor (Zn) as evidenced by their high regeneration and survival rates (95.7-100%).

Odranci and buckwheat groats

Jelka Pšajd — 2024-03-06

The village of Odranci (Prekmurje, Slovenia) is still remembered for its production of buckwheat groats. A special feature were the groats sellers, mainly women, who carried buckwheat groats (kasha or kaša) on foot or by bicycle from house to house or to fairs in various villages in the surrounding area, and further afield.