EFFECTS OF CULTIVAR AND ENVIRONMENT ON PHENOLIC-ACIDS IN BUCKWHEAT

Phenolic acid contents were determined in seeds from five buckwheat cu ltivars grown at three locations in western Canada for four years. Buc kwheat contained 12-16 g/kg of total phenolic acids, about 3 g/kg of e sterified phenolic acids, and 8-13 g/kg of etherified phenolic acids. The latter represented 70 to 79% of the total phenolics. Variation in phenolic acids was mainly due to cultivar, seasonal effects and their interaction, while growing location had no significant effect. Phenoli c acid contents of buckwheat were independent of seed color and protei n content. Esterified phenolic acids exhibited a negative significant association with etherified phenolic acids in buckwheat.