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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304215
Title: Mineral content in grains of seven food-grade sorghum hybrids grown in Mediterranean environment

Author
item PONTIERI, PAOLA - Istituto Di Bioscienze E Biorisorse-Uos Portici-cnr
item DI FIORE, RAFFAELE - Laboratorio Chimico Merceologico Az Spec Cciaa
item TROISI, JACOPO - Laboratorio Chimico Merceologico Az Spec Cciaa
item DI MARO, ANTIMO - Dipartimento Di Scienze E Tecnologie Ambientali
item Bean, Scott
item TUNISTRA, MITCH - Purdue University
item ROEMER, EARL - Nu Life Market
item BOFFA, ANTONIO - Istituto Di Bioscienze E Biorisorse-Uos Portici-cnr
item DEL GIUDICE, ANGELICA - Dipartimento Di Medicina
item PIZZOLANTE, GRAZIANO - Dipartimento Di Scienze E Tecnologie Biologiche E Ambientali
item ALIFANO, PIETRO - Dipartimento Di Scienze E Tecnologie Biologiche E Ambientali
item DEL GIUDICE, LUIGI - Istituto Di Bioscienze E Biorisorse-Uos Portici-cnr

Submitted to: Australian Journal of Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2014
Publication Date: 11/1/2014
Citation: Pontieri, P., Di Fiore, R., Troisi, J., Di Maro, A., Bean, S., Tunistra, M.R., Roemer, E., Boffa, A., Del Giudice, A., Pizzolante, G., Alifano, P., Del Giudice, L. 2014. Mineral content in grains of seven food-grade sorghum hybrids grown in Mediterranean environment. Australian Journal of Crop Science. 8:1550-1559.

Interpretive Summary: Sorghum is a major crop used for food, feed and industrial purposes worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the mineral content in grains of seven white food-grade sorghum hybrids bred and adapted for growth in the central USA and grown in a Mediterranean area of Southern Italy. The sorghum samples used in this study were found to have good ratios of K:Na as well as significant levels of Fe and Zn. Selenium, however, was found to be low in all of the samples. Identification of high grain essential micronutrients sorghum cultivars would help in expanded dissemination of the cultivars to complement the ongoing efforts for combating the micronutrient malnutrition.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum is a major crop used for food, feed and industrial purposes worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the mineral content in grains of seven white food-grade sorghum hybrids bred and adapted for growth in the central USA and grown in a Mediterranean area of Southern Italy. The seven hybrids were analyzed for grain, ash and for both grain macro- and micro-nutrient minerals content. Either nutritionally essential macro-elements content, i.e. K, Na, Mg, Ca and P, or essential micro-elements content such as Al, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn, or trace elements content such as Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, I, Mo, Se, Pb, Sn and V, were investigated. The analysis of essential elements was performed by mass spectrometry using a mix solution of internal isotopes standard. Significant variations in the content of the essential elements were found among the seven white sorghum hybrids examined. These results are discussed in the context of the importance of minerals in human nutrition and of the opportunity to select the best white sorghum varieties from the point of view of mineral content.