Cereal Chem 39:50 - 58.  |  VIEW ARTICLE

The Chemical and Essential Amino Acid Composition of Twenty-Five Selections of Grain Sorghum.

R. Bressani and B. J. Rios. Copyright 1962 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 

The paper reports on the chemical and essential amino acid composition of twenty-three imported and two native samples of grain sorghum grown in Guatemala in 1958. At a single location, ten varieties and thirteen hybrids of imported seed and one native sample were grown. For comparative purposes, one native sample was grown in a different locality. Average values for varieties and hybrids respectively were: protein, 9.4 and 8.9%; ether extract, 3.7 and 3.4%; crude fiber, 2.5 and 2.6%; ash, 2.64 and 2.61%; calcium, 18.51 and 18.23 mg.%; phosphorus, 481 and 519 mg.%; thiamine, 0.30 and 0.22 mg.%; riboflavin, 0.23 and 0.15 mg.%; and niacin, 2.78 and 2.96 mg.% expressed on 14% moisture basis. The two native samples were higher in average content of protein, thiamine, and niacin, and lower in average content of ash, calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin. Significant differences in essential amino acid composition were found among the 25 samples, reflecting the genetic variability in the imported material studied. Nevertheless, the similarity in chemical composition of grain sorghum to maize indicates that grain sorghum can replace maize without significantly changing the nutritive value of the diet or ration.