Multidisciplinary study of a little known landrace of Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn. of Valtellina (Italian Alps)

A little known landrace of Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn. (Grano Siberiano Valtellinese) introduced at the end of the eighteenth century in the mountain areas of Valtellina (Northern Italy) has been analysed according to agronomical (plant height, number of flowers per plant, germinability and weight of the seeds), ecological (plant functional strategy), phytochemical (rutin, quercetin and fagopyrin content) and historical characteristics and compared it with other genotypes of F. tataricum and F. esculentum Moench. Analysis showed that Grano Siberiano Valtellinese is thegenotype best adapted to the environmental conditions of the Valtellina and the most tolerant to stress (functional strategy: CS/CSR). It has a higher concentration of rutin in the seeds (764 +/- 39g/g) and in the shoots (370 +/- 66g/g) which make it interesting for the production of nutraceutical foods. In order to protect this landrace, its inclusion in the European Register of Conservation Varieties has been proposed.