Buckwheat Field
Varieties
Tokyo was one of the first varieties developed in Canada. This small-seeded diploid type has a Japanese line as a parent; however, demand by the Japanese market for large-seeded types encouraged Agriculture Canada at Morden, Manitoba, to develop and release Mancan in 1974. Mancan is a large-seeded diploid type with good market acceptability but low test weight. The 1,000 kwt of this variety is 29 grams.
Manor, another large-seeded diploid variety, developed by the Agriculture Canada Research Station at Morden was released in 1980. The 1,000 kwt of Manor is also 29 grams. AC Manisoba, a higher-yielding extra large-seeded variety was brought forward from Agriculture Canada at Morden in 1995. AC Manisoba has a 1,000 kwt of 35 grams.
The following information on varieties has been provided courtesy of Manitoba Agriculture.
- AC Springfield - This large seeded variety has larger seed than Mancan and Manor, having 35.7 g/1000 seed compared to 29.6 g and 28.6 g, respectively. It has a higher percentage of large, whole groat after dehulling. Its yielding ability is intermediate to Mancan and Manor. Seed density is low at 523 kg/m3, compared to 557 kg/m3 for Mancan, and 570 kg/m3 for Manor. About two per cent of the seed has a winged extension of the hull.
- Koban - This large seeded variety is higher yielding, has greater seed density and contains higher protein than AC Manisoba. Seed is dark brown to black.
- BM 94362.3 - This large seeded variety has higher yields, increased seed density, 1000 seed weight
- (36.9 g compared to 34.2 g) and earlier maturity than AC Manisoba. Seed density is high at 621 kg/m3 compared to 557 kg/m3 for Mancan and 570 kg/m3 for Manor. Its protein content is slightly lower than AC Manisoba. The seed is very dark brown to black.
- BM 94199.1 - This large seeded variety has higher yields, increased seed density, 1000 seed weight (37.3 g compared to 34.2 g) and earlier maturity than AC Manisoba. Seed density is similar to BM 94362l3. Its protein content is slightly lower than AC Manisoba. The seed is very dark brown to black.
- Ever since their introduction, large seeded varieties have encountered problems in the marketplace. First, their low bushel weight has been mistaken for poor quality. But large seeded buckwheat is characteristically light in bushel weight because of its size and shape. Secondly, Canadian large seeded varieties are typically light to dark brown, not black. Light coloured kernels thus have mistakenly been thought to be immature. When harvesting weather is excellent, mature buckwheat has this range of color, with good green testa immediately below the brown husk.
- The newer varieties, BM94362.3 and BM94199.1, have very dark brown to black seed, which is plump and somewhat round. The difficulties in marketing, which arise from misunderstandings over bushel weight and color, should be avoided with these new varieties. Furthermore, the amount of groat from plump, round seeds should please processors.
- Earlier large seed varieties had winged extension of the hull. Japanese buyers dislike this feature and refer to such buckwheat as “oni,” which means devil, perhaps because these kernels resemble a small devil’s face. Such buckwheat has less groat and little value for processors. With later large seeded varieties, the winged extension has been eliminated.
