Biochemical composition of plant raw material of sweet sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench) genotype

Objective – to investigate biochemical properties of plant raw material of cultivars and varieties of Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench in conditions of M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine.

Material and methods. Investigated plants were cultivars and varieties of Sorghum saccharatum collected in experimental collection of Cultural Flora Department of National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine: S. saccharatum (SS), S. saccharatum cv. Botanichnyi (SSB), S. saccharatum cv. Energodar (SSE), S. saccharatum cv. Medove (SSM), S. saccharatum cv. Yantar (SSY), S. saccharatum f. AMBR1 (India) (SSA1), S. saccharatum f. AMBR2 (Kazakhstan) (SSA2), S. saccharatum f. AMBR5 (Kazakhstan) (SSA5). The content of dry matter was determined according to A.I. Yermakov et al. (1972), the total content of sugars and ascorbic acid concentration – according to V.P. Krishchenko (1983), the content of carotene – according to B.P. Pleshkov (1985), the content of ash – according to Z.M. Hrycaenko et al. (2003), the content of calcium and phosphorus – according to H.N. Pochinok (1976). Energetic value of dry plant raw material determined on calorimeter. Content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves detected according to M.M. Musienko et al. (2001).

Results. In the period of milkywax seed ripening the plant raw material of Sorghum saccharatum accumulated dry matter from 21.11 % (SSA1) to 46.41 % (SSB), total content of sugars – from 8.64 % (SSE) to 28.65 % (SSA1), ascorbic acid – from 11.39 mg% (SSA) to 35.96 mg% (SSA2), carotene – from 0.16 mg% (SSE) to 0.92 mg% (SSA2), ash – from 2.32 % (SSY) to 4.02 % (SSB), calcium – from 0.503 % (SSA5) to 1.127 % (SS), phosphorus – from 0.037 % (SSY) to 0.148 % (SSM). Energetic value of dry raw was from 2928.77 Cal/g (SSE) to 4075.62 Cal/ g (SSA5). Ratio of photosynthetic pigments content was 1.26 (SSM) – 6.20 (SSB).

Conclusions. Obtained data demonstrated that in conditions of M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine cultivars and varieties of Sorghum saccharatum are the valuable source of nutrients and biofuel in the period of milkywax seed ripening. Among investigated genotypes SSB characterized by the most content of dry matter and ash, SSA1 – total content of sugars, SSA2 – vitamins, SSA5 – energetic value.