Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds at the Initial Steps of Ontogenesis of Fagopyrum esculentum Plants That Differ in Their Ploidy Levels

Abstract

Plants of buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum possessing diploid and tetraploid genotypes were studied at the initial ontogenetic stages. They were compared in their morphophysiological characteristics, accumulation of phenolic compounds (including their main classes—phenylpropanoids and flavonoids), and activity of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. An apparent resemblance in morphophysiological characteristics of seedlings was found between the two specimens, but diploid plants tended to faster linear growth than tetraploid ones. Differences in the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the hypocotyl and cotyledonous leaves were revealed. In most cases, in the course of seedling growth, the changes in phenylalanine ammonialyase activity did not correlate with the changes in the levels of these secondary metabolites. The effects of gene dosage were established towards accumulation of phenylpropanoids and anthocyanins in hypocotyls of seedlings and flavonoid accumulation in cotyledonous leaves. It is concluded that buckwheat seedlings with a tetraploid genotype have higher capacity than diploid seedlings for biosynthesis of phenolics.