BUCKWHEAT RESEARCH IN KASHMIR

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp., Fam. Polygonaceae) can become an important crop in the feeding of mankind and domestic animals to meet the ever increasing demands of rapidly expanding population. The present manuscript reviews briefly the importance of buckwheat crop particularly its economic, nutritional and medicinal value; besides stressing upon the importance of research scope on the crop. The second part of the paper describes the past, present and future of buckwheat research in Kashmir with particular reference to four species viz. F esculentum Moench, F sagittatum Gilib., F kashmirianum Munshi and F tataricum Gaertn. found in populations from various high altitude areas. The need for the extension of buckwheat research in Kashmir is highlighted particularly to identify suitable markers for desirable growth and yield characteristics. Buckwheat is confusing to many as it seems to convey relationship to wheat, which is not true. The name is probably a modification of "beech-wheat " (German Buckweizen) from the resemblance of its- grains with beechnuts, Fagus grandi/oUa (Singh and Atal 1982)