Plant Ploidy Level and the Presence of Cadmium in the Growing Environment Changes the Content of the Main Components of the Phenolic Complex in Buckwheat Sprouts.

Abstract

For the first time, the composition and the content of the main components of the phenolic complex of aboveground organs of buckwheat plants (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) with different levels of ploidy (2n and 4n) at the initial stages of ontogenesis and their changes under the action of cadmium (Cd, 65µM) were studied by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. In all variants, phenolic compounds (PCs) were represented by chlorogenic acid (phenylpropanoid), rutin (flavonol), as well as orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, and isovitexin (flavones). The amount of PCs in the cotyledon leaves in most cases exceeded that in the hypocotyls. Buckwheat seedlings of the tetraploid genotype are characterized by a higher accumulation of PCs as compared to the diploid genotype. Under the effect of Cd, the content of their individual representatives changed: in the hypocotyls of the diploid genotype, it decreased in most cases, whereas in the hypocotyls of the tetraploid genotype it increased. In the cotyledon leaves, the tendency was opposite. It was found that seedlings of two F. esculentum genotypes with different ploidy levels differed in the content of the main PCs and in their response to Cd, which is important for breeding this culture for stress resistance.