The Distribution and Sustainable Utilization of Buckwheat Resources under Climate Change in China

Buckwheat is a promising pseudo cereal and its cultivation history can be traced back to thousands of years ago in China. Nowadays, buckwheat is not only an ordinary crop but also a symbol of healthy life because of its rich nutritional and pharmacological properties. In this research, the current suitable areas of 19 wild buckwheat species were analyzed by the MaxEnt model, which proved that southwestern China was the diversity center of buckwheat. Their morphological characteristics and geographical distribution were analyzed for the first time. In addition, it was found that the change of buckwheat cultivation in three periods might be related to the green revolution of main crops and national policies. Meanwhile, the Sustainable Yield Index (SYI) value of buckwheat in China was the lowest from 1959 to 2016. Through the MaxEnt model, the potentially suitable areas of wild buckwheat would contract while cultivated buckwheat would expand under climate change. Accordingly, the diversity of wild buckwheat will decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to protect buckwheat resources as much as possible to strengthen the development and utilization of buckwheat resources. Moreover, the promotion of buckwheat diversity will be an important trade-off between food security, population growth, and land use under climate change.

Biotechnological Methods for Buckwheat Breeding

The Fagopyrum genus includes two cultivated species, namely common buckwheat (F. esculentum Moench) and Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum Gaertn.), and more than 25 wild buckwheat species. The goal of breeders is to improve the properties of cultivated buckwheat with methods of classical breeding, with the support of biotechnological methods or a combination of both. In this paper, we reviewed the possibility to use transcriptomics, genomics, interspecific hybridization, tissue cultures and plant regeneration, molecular markers, genetic transformation, and genome editing to aid in both the breeding of buckwheat and in the identification and production of metabolites important for preserving human health. The key problems in buckwheat breeding are the unknown mode of inheritance of most traits, associated with crop yield and the synthesis of medicinal compounds, low seed yield, shedding of seeds, differential flowering and seed set on branches, and unknown action of genes responsible for the synthesis of buckwheat metabolites of pharmaceutical and medicinal interest.

Confirmation and Characterization of the First Case of Acetolactate Synthase (ALS)-Inhibitor—Resistant Wild Buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.) in the United States

Wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.) is a problem weed and ALS-inhibitors (e.g., chlorsulfuron) are commonly used for its management. Recently, a population of wild buckwheat (KSW-R) uncontrolled with ALS-inhibitors was found in a wheat field in Kansas, USA. The objectives of this research were to determine the level and mechanism of resistance to chlorsulfuron and cross resistance to other ALS-inhibitors in the KSW-R population. In response to chlorsulfuron rates ranging from 0 to 16x (x = 18 g ai/ha), the KSW-R wild buckwheat was found >100-fold more resistant compared to a known ALS-inhibitor susceptible (KSW-S) wild buckwheat. Also, >90% of KSW-R plants survived field recommended rates of sulfonylurea but not imidazolinone family of ALS-inhibitors. A portion of the ALS gene covering all previously reported mutations known to bestow resistance to ALS-inhibitors was sequenced from both KSW-R and KSW-S plants. The Pro-197-Ser substitution that confers resistance to the sulfonylurea herbicides was found in KSW-R plants. Our results support the evolution of high level of chlorsulfuron resistance as a result of a mutation in the ALS-gene in KSW-R buckwheat. This is the first case of resistance to any herbicides in wild buckwheat in the US.

Effect of storage temperature on occurrence of secondary dormancy in buckwheat seeds

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) is an important crop in many parts of the world, and many varieties have been developed. One of the important breeding issues to be addressed is the low resistance to preharvest-sprouting which causes loss in yields and quality of buckwheat grain. The occurrence of dormancy in cultivated buckwheat, including presence of secondary dormancy has yet to be clarified. In this study, we investigated the effects of storage temperature and periods using nine common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), seven Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and one wild buckwheat (Fagopyrum homotropicum). In some Tartary buckwheats stored at 5°C, the germination of seeds stored 10 days harvest was significantly less than the germination of seeds collected and sown at harvest maturity; the germination of other germplasm, including common buckwheat, was not affected by storage. This result indicates that Tartary buckwheat can acquire secondary dormancy. In addition, the wild buckwheat did not germinate at any storage temperature up to 30 days after harvest maturity; therefore, this buckwheat is considered to be promising breeding material for increasing resistance to preharvest-sprouting resistance.

A novel haplotype of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ found in Apiaceae and Polygonaceae family plants

A previously unknown haplotype of the plant pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) was found in cultivated carrots and parsnips in eastern Finland. That same haplotype was found in western Finland, over 300 km away, in the family Polygonaceae, the species Fallopia convolvulus (wild buckwheat) and Persicaria lapathifolia (pale persicaria) growing as weeds within carrot and parsnip fields. The infected plants, both apiaceous and polygonaceous, showed symptoms of foliar discolouration. This is the first report of Lso bacteria in plants of the family Polygonaceae. The finding that the polygonaceous plants infected with a previously unknown haplotype of Lso were growing among the apiaceous plants infected with Lso haplotype C suggests that these two haplotypes might be transmitted by different vectors. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the new haplotype, called haplotype H, is distinct from the previously characterized haplotypes and appears to have diverged early from their common ancestor. Multi-locus sequence analysis revealed four different sequence types (strains) within the haplotype H. These findings suggest that the haplotype H is likely to be endemic in northern Europe and that the genetic diversity within the Lso species is higher than previously assumed.

psbE-psbL and ndhA Intron, the Promising Plastid DNA Barcode of Fagopyrum

Buckwheat is an important functional food material with high nutritional value. However, it is still a difficult task for the taxonomy studies of wild buckwheat that are only based on morphology. In order to demonstrate the most efficient DNA barcode in the phylogenetic research of buckwheat, promote the investigation of wild buckwheat, and also reveal the phylogenetic relationship between Fagopyrum species, psbE-psbL and ndhA intron were validated here, which previously have been proved to be promising DNA barcode candidates for phylogenetic studies in genera Fagopyrum. Meanwhile, ndhA intron + psbE-psbL and matK + psbE-psbL could distinguish the relationship between species clearly. Combining the results of morphology and molecular markers, we suggested the buckwheat species should be divided into two subgroups, one subgroup consisted of F. tataricum, F. esculentum, F. cymosum and its related wild species, and the other subgroup included other wild buckwheat species. Our results could fulfill molecular markers of taxonomy research in genera Fagopyrum, promote wild buckwheat species identification, and assist in the use of wild buckwheat resources in the future. Additionally, the phylogenetic relationship revealed here could provide valuable information for molecular breeding of buckwheat and provide reference for inter-species hybridization.

Tank Mixing Pendimethalin with Pyroxasulfone and Chloroacetamide Herbicides Enhances In-Season Residual Weed Control in Corn

Kochia, common lambsquarters, and wild buckwheat are major problem weeds in glyphosate-resistant corn production in the northern Great Plains of the United States. Field research was conducted in 2011 and 2012 near Huntley, MT to investigate effective PRE herbicides applied alone or in premixes with or without tank-mixed pendimethalin for extended in-season residual control of the selected broadleaf weeds in glyphosate-resistant corn. Control of kochia, common lambsquarters, and wild buckwheat with recently registered herbicide premixes, including saflufenacil + dimethenamid-P andS-metolachlor + mesotrione, was as high as 95 and 90% at 21 and 63 d after treatment (DAT), and mostly similar to the standard atrazine treatment. Residual control of common lambsquarters and wild buckwheat from pyroxasulfone was higher at 298 compared with 149 g ai ha−1rate. Pyroxasulfone and other chloroacetamide herbicides (acetochlor or dimethenamid-P) applied alone failed to provide greater than 79, 70, and 54% residual control at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively, of the weed species investigated. Residual weed control throughout the growing season was significantly improved with the addition of pendimethalin to pyroxasulfone (149 g ha−1), acetochlor, or dimethenamid-P when compared with any of the three herbicides applied alone. Kochia control by pyroxasulfone, acetochlor, or dimethenamid-P tank mixed with pendimethalin was as high as 94, 92, and 81% at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively. Control of common lambsquarters with the addition of pendimethalin to pyroxasulfone or acetochlor was improved to 94, 89, and 81% at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively. Similarly, wild buckwheat control with acetochlor plus pendimethalin was improved to 87, 85, and 82% at 21, 35, and 63 DAT, respectively. Consistent with the extended in-season (up to 9 wk) residual weed control, pyroxasulfone, acetochlor, or dimethenamid-P treatments when tank mixed with pendimethalin had higher corn yields compared with the herbicides applied alone. The investigation on residual herbicides that provide extended in-season weed control should be continued as an important aspect of glyphosate stewardship and to mitigate the occurrence of glyphosate-resistant weed populations in grower fields.

Further examination of the geographic range of Eriogonum corymbosum var. nilesii (Polygonaceae, Eriogoneae)

The wild buckwheat Eriogonum corymbosum is widely distributed throughout the southwestern United States, forming a complex of eight varieties. E. corymbosum var. nilesii is a predominantly yellow-flowered variant reported primarily from Clark Co., Nevada. A previous genetic study by our research group found that var. nilesii is genetically distinct from other E. corymbosum varieties, based on a limited number of populations. Here, we assess genetic variation in 14 newly sampled yellow-flowered populations from southern Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona, and compare them to genetic variation in six populations of previously determined E. corymbosum varieties. Of the new populations, we identified four as var. nilesii, four as var. aureum, three as var. glutinosum, two as apparent hybrids involving vars. aureum and nilesii, and one as a more distantly related admixture involving E. thompsoniae. Our results extend the range and area of E. corymbosum var. nilesii considerably from that traditionally stated in the literature. However, this extended range is confined to the Mojave Desert region of southern Nevada, and the number of known populations remains limited.