Influence of yield parameters on protein in buckwheat achenes

Six varieties of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) were tested in field experiments without application of fertilization on two sites during the period 1998-2000. The number of flowers per inflorescence, number of primary branches, nodes, inflorescences and empty achenes per plant, thousand achene weight, fraction of achenes above size 4.5 mm production of one plant, production the main stem, yield of achenes and Harvest Index were established. The crude protein content in achenes was determined according to Kjehladl method and leucine and lysine content in achenes was determined chromatographically after acid and oxidative acid hydrolysis. The total protein content correlated positively with the number of empty achenes per plant, whose occurrence as result of the susceptibility of the plants to the dry conditions during the achene maturation period. Leucine correlated with lysine positively. Correlation of both amino acids with selected yield parameters indicate that the best protein quality have achenes with high weight formed on main stems.