Optimization of Germination of Tartary Buckwheat with Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water by Response Surface Methodology and Its Selenium-enriched Rules

To explore the influence of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) with different pH and available chlorine contents (ACC) on the germination of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), the germination rate was taken as the index, and the germination process of tartary buckwheat sprouts with SAEW was optimized by single factor and response surface experiments. Moreover, to obtain good quality selenium-enriched tartary buckwheat sprouts, the effects of different Na₂SeO₃ concentrations on tartary buckwheat were studied on the basis of SAEW germination, with the total selenium content and germination rate as indexes. The optimum technological parameters were determined as follows: soaking time 2.3 h, pH6.5, germination temperature 21 ℃ and germination time 108 h. Under these conditions, the germination rate was 84.96%, which was close to the predicted value of the response surface group (85.36%), being 14.3% and 11.71% higher than those of distilled water and tap water groups, respectively. The optimal concentration of Na₂SeO₃ was 60 mg/L, under which the total selenium content of tartary buckwheat sprouts was 15.5 mg/L, and the germination rate was 85.63%, which were both higher than the predicted and actual values of response surface group. This study provided a theoretical and scientific basis for the development of SAEW and selenium-enriched treatment of tartary buckwheat sprouts.