The potential cultivation of buckwheat species in Luang Prabang region, Lao PDR where the species has not been naturally grown and not traditionally utilized was studied to introduce buckwheat as a new agricultural material, especially for food and medicine. The growth of Tartary buckwheat species was higher than common buckwheat showing 2.3 fold of plant height compared to common buckwheat. Number of flower per plant in Tartary buckwheat (731) was three fold higher than common buckwheat (244). Dry weight per plant was respectively 1.7 g in Suwon No. 1, 2.6 g in Suwon No. 2, and 1.4 g in KW45. The rate average of seed setting was similar between common buckwheat (41 to 46 %) and Tartary buckwheat (44%). Total seed yield of Tartary buckwheat (184 kg/10 a) in 10a could be estimated to be higher than that of common buckwheat (108 kg/10 a).

This paper describes the potential use of deep sea water to stimulate seed germination in both common and Tartary buckwheat. Treatment of 10% deep sea water at 25℃ would slightly enhance germination of buckwheat seeds compared to non-DSW treatment and other temperature. In this study, the significant effects of photoperiod and temperature on seedling growth were also found in the HL treatment for the number of leaf, plant height, and plant fresh weight and LL treatment for root length and leaf size. Common buckwheat (Suwon No.1) showed higher rate (93%) of flowering plants in the HS and LL (93% of flowering rates) than those revealed in the HS and LS treatment, while the low percentage(67%) of plant flowering plants was shown in the LS treatment. All plants (100%) of a Korean landrace, Ahndong-jaerae showed flowers in the HS and LS treatment. HL and LL treatment status did not occur in the plant's flowering. Any Tartary buckwheat (KW45) plant did not yet flowered when it was 21 days-old.

With both common and Tartary buckwheat species, this study was aimed at producing new commercially useful bio-materials with higher nutritional and medicinal value due to higher components for health promotion and diseases care. In common buckwheat sprouts, it was found that root length at 20℃ was longer (5.93 cm) than at 25 and 30℃, whereas the hypocotyls length, fresh weight of each sprout, and whole fresh weight showed the highest value at 30℃. For Tartary buckwheat, the root length, hypocotyl length and fresh weight of each sprout and whole fresh weight were also the highest at 30℃. Common buckwheat (Suwon No.1) and Tartary buckwheat (KW45) sprouts cultured at 20℃ showed that hypocotyl length, fresh weight of each sprout, and whole fresh weight in the control were higher than those sprouts treated with 5% and 10% deep sea water (DSW), while the sprouts cultured at 30℃ showed were significantly longer hypocotyls than the control or 5% DSW treatment.

The aim of this study was to develop the tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) sprouts and to clarify the biological and chemical characteristics of the sprouts. At 7 days after seeding, hypocotyls length and thickness, and root length of tartary buckwheat sprouts were 137 cm, 1.4 mm, and 12.6 cm, respectively. Fresh weight, dry weight, and moisture contents of an individual sprout at 7 days after seeding were 202 mg, 5.4 mg, and 95.3%, respectively. Protein content in tartary buckwheat sprouts was 23.0% which relatively higher than that of seeds, while lipid and ash contents were 3.5% and 5.3%. Among 7 minerals, the content of phosphorus showed the highest level (1,383.5 mg/100 g), while the contents of sodium and potassium were 1,197.5 mg/100 g and 1,106 mg/100 g, respectively. The contents of other minerals were Mg (795.5 mg/100 g), Ca (149 mg/100 g), Zn (16.4 mg/ 100 g), and Fe (14.7 mg/100 g). The rutin content of tatary buckwheat sprouts including root parts was the highest (5644.9 mg/100 g) at 7 days after seeding. The concentration of catechin derivatives in tartary buckwheat sprouts was high in order of catechin (59 mg/100 g), epicatechin gallate (47 mg/100 g), and epicatechin (14 mg/100 g).