Dual effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment on the accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and rutin in germinated buckwheat

•SAEW treatment can promote the GABA and rutin accumulation in germinated buckwheat.•SAEW treatment can activate GAD and PAL activity, which caused the dual accumulation.•SAEW promote rutin accumulation, which not is caused by the inhibition of RDE activity.•SAEW treatment had no adverse impact on the sprouts growth.•SAEW treatment could reduce the microbial populations during buckwheat germination. In the present study, the dual effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and rutin accumulation of germinated buckwheat were evaluated during germination. The results showed that SAEW treatment (pH 5.83, ACC of 20.3mg/L) could promote the accumulation of GABA and rutin in germinated buckwheat. The GABA and rutin contents of SAEW-germinated buckwheat reached 143.20 and 739.9mg/100g respectively, which is significantly higher than those of control (P