Effects of light on growth, levels of anthocyanin, concentration of metabolites in Fagopyrum tataricum sprout cultures

Sumamy Tartary buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tataricum ) sprouts are a popular healthy product around the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of light on growth, levels of anthocyanin, metabolite concentration in tartary buckwheat sprouts. To investigate the metabolites and accumulation of anthocyanin in tartary buckwheat sprouts, gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry ( GC ‐ MS ) and high performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC ) were conducted. The levels of Cyanidin 3‐O‐glucoside and Cyanidin 3‐O‐rutinoside were higher under light/dark condition than that under dark condition. A total of fifty‐five metabolites, including nineteen amino acids, fifteen organic acids, eight sugars, four amines, two sugar alcohols, seven other kinds were detected in tartary buckwheat sprouts. Multivariate statistical methods were used to fully distinguish between light/dark and dark condition, and eleven compounds were defined as deferentially expressed metabolites using these methods. Our results may be helpful for practical application in the production of nutritional buckwheat sprouts in the future.