Varieties of buckwheat varieties, their description and characteristics

Buckwheat is an important industrial crop in Russia. The famous buckwheat is obtained from it and flour. It is mistakenly believed that buckwheat is a grain crop, while it belongs to a completely different family. It is represented by several varieties – wild and cultivated. During the selection process, the latter acquired new properties and characteristics that were most beneficial for agriculture.

From the article you will learn what varieties of crops exist, what a diploid determinate type variety is, and get acquainted with popular varieties of buckwheat.

Varieties of buckwheat varieties

Buckwheat, a plant from the Buckwheat family, is divided into several types:

1. Tartary buckwheat found in wild form and cultivated as a cultivated plant in Asia and the USA.
2. Common buckwheat, or seed buckwheat, - the main species from which varieties of cultivated crops were bred on an industrial scale in Russia. For industry, diploid and tetraploid variants are cultivated, in which the number of chromosomes is increased.

In the Soviet Union, buckwheat was divided into two types - kernel And done. Now this classification is also in effect, but the new standard (GOST R 55290-2012) added the concept of the highest grade to it. Such cereals are produced by many manufacturers, for example, the National group of companies.

It is difficult to say exactly how many varieties of buckwheat exist. We will describe the most popular ones.

Diploid varieties

Diploid varieties are close to wild forms, but they have double the number of chromosomes. This was done to increase the yield and resistance to external factors.

Vlada

An erect plant with a dense ribbed stem about 1 m high. The leaves are bright green, covered with silvery pubescence, triangular at the base of the stem, at the apex they become narrow, arrow-shaped adjacent to it. The inflorescence is a raceme with small light pink or milky pink flowers. The fruit is an elongated trihedron of dark brown color.

The growing season is 83-85 days.

The average yield is 16.4-17.8 c/ha, the maximum is 28 c/ha.

Dikul

The buckwheat variety Dikul is erect, similar to the previous one in morphological characteristics. The stem is 90-95 cm high, green along its entire length. The leaves are heart-shaped or triangular, rich green in color, with slight short pubescence. Inflorescence – brush or scutellum, flowers small, white-pink. The fruit is medium in size, elongated triangular, with three sides, uniform brown in color.

The growing season is 80-85 days.

The average yield is 14.1-16.5 c/ha, the maximum is 25.8 c/ha.

Carmen

An erect variety, the stem is hollow, dense, with a short silvery fluff, 80-86 cm high. The leaf is green, heart-shaped, narrow at the top, elongated, without pubescence, with a faint matte waxy coating. The inflorescence is a raceme, located on long pedicels. The flowers are small, pinkish-white or pale pink. The fruit is a diamond-shaped trihedron with a pronounced dark brown color.

The growing season is 75-80 days.

The average yield is 16.7-17.3 c/ha, the maximum is 24.7 c/ha.

Sapphire

A variety with a hollow, erect, ribbed, geniculate stem 70-75 cm high.The leaves are medium-sized, rich green, heart-shaped, sessile towards the top of the stem, wavy. They have no pubescence or waxy coating. The inflorescence is a raceme on a long stalk with small pinkish flowers. The fruit is triangular, diamond-shaped, warm brown.

The growing season is 77-82 days.

The average yield is 22.5-23.0 c/ha, the maximum is 42.6 c/ha.

Tetraploid varieties

Tetraploid buckwheat has a triple set of chromosomes. It is characterized by productivity and large grains with a high protein content, is not prone to shedding and is resistant to environmental factors.

Alexandrina

A medium-sized variety up to 90 cm high with a hollow ribbed stem. The leaves are heart-shaped at the base, arrow-shaped at the top, bright green in color, without a waxy coating or pubescence. The inflorescence is a scutellum on a long peduncle with large pale pink flowers. The fruit is an elongated trihedron of dark brown color.

The growing season is 86-88 days.

The average yield is 17.5-18.1 c/ha, the maximum is 32.7 c/ha.

Or me

An erect variety with a ribbed empty stem of a reddish-green color. The leaves are large, green, triangular at the base, arrow-shaped towards the top of the stem, without pubescence or bloom. The inflorescence is a raceme with large light pink flowers. The fruit is large, diamond-shaped with three sides, dark brown over the entire surface.

The growing season is 85-90 days.

The average yield is 17.5-18.5 c/ha, the maximum is 33.2 c/ha.

This is interesting:

How to eat buckwheat correctly if you have type 1 diabetes.

How to eat buckwheat correctly when doing bodybuilding to gain weight.

Lena

An erect plant, the stem is hollow, ribbed, 90-95 cm high, light green along its entire length. The leaves are large, green, heart-shaped and wavy, without pubescence.The inflorescence is a raceme with a long peduncle; the flowers are small, pinkish or pinkish-white. The fruit is large, diamond-shaped with three sides, brown or light brown.

The growing season is 90 days.

The average yield is 12.9-14.1 c/ha, the maximum is 25.5 c/ha.

Martha

An erect plant with a hollow ribbed stem up to 110 cm high. The leaves are adjacent, gray-green or green, without pubescence or bloom. The inflorescence is a raceme with large pale pink flowers. The fruit is a triangular brown diamond with whitish edges.

The growing season is 95-100 days.

The average yield is 18.4-19.1 c/ha, the maximum is 41.8 c/ha.

Reference. When sowing, the variety requires isolation from diploid varieties.

Determinate and indeterminate varieties

Since buckwheat is initially characterized by excess growth, breeders began to look for ways to direct this property in the direction necessary for agriculture. Determinate varieties have been bred that have a genetically determined growth restriction. This is due to the appearance of three clusters of inflorescences, in which growth processes take place.

These varieties include:

• Lena;
• Carmen;
• Dialogue;
• Nine;
• Pace;
• Design;
• Sumchanka.

The varieties are distinguished by short stems, small leaves and large flowers. Designed mainly for regions with a risk of spring frosts, as they are resistant to cold weather.

Reference. Diploid varieties of determinate type are characterized by short growth and double the number of chromosomes. Among them are Carmen and Dikul.

Indeterminate varieties are not limited in growth, but have a high content of flavonoids. The height of plants often exceeds 1 m, which makes them less resistant to wind and prone to lodging.

These varieties include:

• Martha;
• Rain;
• Dikul;
• Rumor;
• Ballad.

Wild species

In addition to cultivated varieties, there are several species of wild plants cultivated in some regions as cultivated plants. These include Sakhalin, Tatarian, and double-tasseled buckwheat.

Tatarian buckwheat, or kirlyk, is a weed that accompanies cereal crops. It grows in abundance in Altai. The taste differs little from cultivated varieties. Can be cultivated in small areas. Expanding buckwheat causes damage to crops.

Double-tasseled buckwheat, or semi-umbrella, less common. Used in Chinese folk medicine. Resembles morphologically cultivated varieties. Distributed mainly in China, but found as a weed in regions bordering it. Cultivated in the southern regions of Russia to obtain rhizomes.

Far Eastern buckwheat, or Sakhalin buckwheat, is a weedy forage plant up to 3 m high. It is grown as an ornamental crop for hedges. It has large leaves and inflorescences with small white flowers. Due to its high vitamin content, it is used as feed for farm animals.

Conclusion

Currently, both old and new varieties of buckwheat are used in agriculture. Not only the resulting fruits are used, but also the leaves and rhizomes. Some weed species serve as good food sources for farm animals.