Abstract
Growth, yield and quality of three Japanese barnyard millet cultivars differing in amylose content of endosperm were investigated in 2006 and 2008. Karumaizairai-Shiro is an early-maturing panicle-number type and Noge-Hie and Chojuromochi are medium-maturing panicle-weight type cultivars. The maximum tiller number stage in all three cultivars was 1 August in 2008, although the maturing duration differed with the cultivars. The appropriate time of top dressing to increase the yield was suggested to be the beginning of August, which improved the percentage of ripened grains in Karumaizairai-Shiro, while it was the beginning of July that increased panicle number in Noge-Hie and Chojuromochi. There was no significant difference between Noge-Hie and Chojuromochi in agricultural characteristics. Amylose content of endosperm of Noge-Hie was half that of Karumaizairai-Shiro. The particle size of 70% milled flour was larger in Noge-Hie and Chojuromochi than in Karumaizairai-Shiro. Seventy percent milled flour of Karumaizairai-Shiro was less bright but more colorful than of Noge-Hie and Chojuromochi. In a pasting test with a Rapid Visco Analyzer, Karumaizairai-Shiro had a high setback value and Noge-Hie had a high break down value with a low setback value, while Chojuromochi had a low maximum value and low final viscosity. In a pasting test with silver nitrate solution, peak viscosity was higher than that in the test with water, and the difference was large in Chojuromochi.
