Chapter seven - Interspecific Crosses in Buckwheat Breeding

Abstract

This work describes the results of interspecific hybridization in the large achene cymosum group of the genus Fagopyrum. The interspecific hybrids between the cultivated common buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum and three other species were produced in every cross combination. The crosses of F. esculentum with Fagopyrum cymosum and Fagopyrum tataricum are required in the ovule culture to rescue the hybrid embryos. The hybrid plants obtained in these combinations were mostly or partially sterile. The artificial species Fagopyrum giganteum was the first fertile allopolyploid hybrid between F. tataricum and F. cymosum. F. giganteum is used as a bridge species for introgression of traits of F. cymosum into cultivated Tartary buckwheat. The cross of common buckwheat and wild species Fagopyrum homotropicum is the most prospective in regard to the fertility of hybrids and their progenies. As a result of interspecific hybridization with F. homotropicum the advanced self-fertile breeding lines were developed.