Adaptative Responses of Common and Tartary Buckwheat to Different Altitudes

Abstract

Environmental conditions at different elevations are harsher at higher elevations and impose constraints upon plants. The response of common and Tartary buckwheats to environmental conditions at elevations between 300 and 1180 m above sea level (asl) was studied. In common buckwheat, grown at the highest elevation, there was an increased investment in secondary metabolism, and decreased investment in primary metabolism, since the production of UV-absorbing compounds was enhanced while the amounts of chlorophylls and carotenoids decreased. In Tartary buckwheat, the amounts of UV-absorbing compounds, chlorophylls and carotenoids were similar in plants grown at different elevations, indicating better adaptation to conditions at higher elevations. Common and Tartary buckwheat plants from Podbeže had thicker leaves than plants from the two other locations. This could be a response to high radiation in the very sunny position in Podbeže.