Use of a Tissue Culture Method to Develop New Forms of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench

A tissue culture method has been used for the breeding of buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) in the presence of high concentrations of heavy metal ions in a nutrient medium as selective factors. Based on the Izumrud (Russia) and Kitawase (Japan) varieties and their hybrid (Izumrud × Kitawase), some copper- and zinc-tolerant regenerant lines have been derived. The negative effect of copper ions in the form of chlorophyll mutants has been observed starting from the second generation of regenerant plants. A positive effect of heavy metals on the increase of a rutin content in regenerants has been observed under in vitro conditions. The field evaluation of heavy metal-tolerant samples has allowed us to select lines highly adapted to the monsoon climate of Primorsky krai and to combine such features as large grain size (thousand kernel weight is equal to 36–38 g), high seed productivity (1.9–3.2 g), and high rutin content in green mass (2.8–4.3%).