GRAS-Di for common buckwheat, genetic analysis of maturity time

Common buckwheat is considered a quantitative short-day plant and is classified into the autumn (highly photoperiod sensitive), summer (weakly photoperiod sensitive), and intermediate ecotype. Understanding ecotype differentiation is essential for adaptive expansion and maximizing yield. Here, we investigated the genetic loci associated with maturity time as a trait that defines the ecotype. We developed a high-density genetic linkage map by the genotyping by random amplicon sequencing-direct (GRAS-Di) system. Using this map, we detected major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for maturity time. These QTLs were located at loci different from those of the flowering time QTLs, suggesting that the photoperiod responses of maturity time and flowering time would have different mechanisms.