Differences in quality characteristics of'Jingu 21'millet across different regions
[Objective]This study aimed to investigate the differences in nutritional and processing qualities of'Jingu 21'millet un-der different ecological environments,optimize the regional layout of high-quality millet varieties,and improve millet quality.[Methods]'Jingu 21'millet planted in 24 regions,including Shanxi,Shaanxi,Ningxia,Gansu,and Beijing,was analyzed for its nutritional components,starch gelatinization characteristics,and the texture characteristics of millet porridge and millet rice.Grey correlation analysis was used to comprehensively evaluate the nutritional components of'Jingu 21'from different regions.[Results]The results showed that the coefficients of variation for cellulose and ash in'Jingu 21'millet across different regions were the largest,with significant differences also observed in yellow pigment,fat,protein,and amylose content.Starch and protein contents were generally higher in'Jingu 21'millet from all 24 regions.The concentration of millet porridge varied con-siderably among regions.While cooking quality differed across regions,the cohesion of millet was relatively consistent,indicat-ing good uniformity.Millet from Lin County in Shanxi Province and Zhidan County,Dingbian County,and Mizhi County in Shaanxi Province showed higher disintegration values than millet from other regions.The retrogradation value was significantly higher in millet from Lin County in Shanxi Province,Yanqing in Beijing City,and Dingbian in Shaanxi Province compared to other regions.Grey relational analysis showed that the weight of nutrient components followed the order:starch content>protein content>fat content>yellow pigment content>amylose content>cellulose content>ash content.The correlation de-gree among different regions was relatively close,indicating minimal differences in comprehensive quality.Among them,'Jin-gu 21'from Lin County in Shanxi Province exhibited the closest characteristics to the ideal variety and the best overall quality,while Fenyang City in Shanxi Province showed the greatest divergence from the ideal variety.[Conclusion]Environmental fac-tors significantly influenced the quality of'Jingu 21'millet,with varying impacts on different nutritional qualities.Beyond genet-ic selection,cultivating high-quality millet varieties can also be achieved by improving ecological environmental conditions.