The effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on endosperm development, starch component, key enzyme activity and grain quality of common buckwheat were investigated in this study. The results showed that N fertilization significantly enhanced the number and area of endosperm cells, and significant increases were also observed in the contents of amylose, amylopectin and total starch. With increasing N level, the activities of key enzyme significantly increased showing the maximum under the N2 level (180 kg N ha-1), and then decreased under high N level. As N level increased, the ash, crude protein and amylose content varied from 1.36 to 2.25 %, from 7.99 to 15.84 % and from 22.69 to 27.64 %, respectively. The gelatinization enthalpy significantly increased with the range of 3.46-5.66 J/g, while no change was found in crystalline structure of common buckwheat flour. These results indicated that appropriate N application could effectively improve the endosperm development, starch synthesis and accumulation, and grain properties of common buckwheat, with the best effect under the level of 180 kg N ha-1.
Keywords: Common buckwheat; Nitrogen fertilizer; Starch accumulation.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.