Optimum Harvest Time Judged from Muturation Properties of Japanese Barnyard Millet in the Late Ripening Stage

The Japanese barnyard millet is a major millet and is recently being re-evaluated as a highly nutritious and healthy cereal in Japan. However, the optimal harvest time of Japanese barnyard millet has not been reported. We investigated the changes in panicle moisture content, 1000-grain weight, germination rate, crude protein content, amylose content, Α-amylase activity and visco property of grain flour from 20 to 45 days after heading in 5 local varieties, 2 local varieties, and 3 cultivars in 2003, 2004 and 2008, respectively. The moisture content of panicles tended to decrease with advanced heading time in all local varieties, except varieties encountered much rain in late harvest time (40 days in 2003). The 1000-grain weight, germination rate, crude protein content, amylose content, Α-amylase activity and visco property of grain flour did not significantly chage from 25 to 45 days after heading. Judging from these results the optimal harvest time of Japanese barnyard millet is 30 to 35days after heading.