Genetic diversity analysis in Buckwheat germplasm for nutritional traits

ABSTRACT

Feeding the growing global human population is a tough challenge. Researchers look towards lesser known food crops which are nutritionally adequate, if not superior than the common major crops. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tartaricum L. Gaerth), also called ‘pseudocereal’, is one such multipurpose crop with promising nutritive value. To enhance utilization of buckwheat as supplement food, here, we did genetic diversity analysis for nutritional parameters. Significant genetic diversity was observed in buckwheat germplasm for 24 nutritional parameters including total oil content (0.75-5.45%), oleic acid (36.98-47.87%), linoleic acid (32.75-44.61%), total protein content (5.65-14.17%), lysine (4.19-8.63 g/16 g N), methionine (0.54-2.48 g/16 g N) and half cystine (0.82-3.57 g/16 g N). The entire germplasm was grouped into three clusters. Cluster I comprised accessions promising high oil, stearic acid, oleic acid, least in linoleic acid and essential amino acids. Cluster II had accessions promising quality oil with highest linoleic acid and linolenic acid (PUFA) and highest half-cystine and glycine. Cluster III possesed promising accessions for highest oil percent, total protein, high essential amino acids and highest test weight. The inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) analysis using 26 primers indicated significant genetic diversity existed at molecular level. This study includes large number of accessions analyzed for nutridiversity in entire spectrum of germplasm collections of the world. Nutritionally rich promising genotypes identified will be potential genetic stocks for making buckwheat, a prospective supplement food crop.