Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #134793
Title: SORGHUM RESEARCH AT THE GRAIN QUALITY & STRUCTURE RESEARCH UNIT

Author
item Bean, Scott
item PARK, S - KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
item Ioerger, Brian
item DIXON, C - KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2002
Publication Date: 2/16/2003
Citation: Bean, S.R., Park, S.H., Ioerger, B.P., and Dixon, C.E. 2003. Sorghum research at the Grain Quality and Structure Research Unit. Page 42 in: Proceedings of the 23rd Biennial Grain Sorghum Research and Utilization Conference. National Grain Sorghum Producers Annual Meeting. [Abstract]

Interpretive Summary: Abstract of a poster presentation at the in-house ARS Workshop on Nutritional Enhancement of Plants, Animals and Foods held in Houston, TX, on May 15-16, 2002.

Technical Abstract: Currently, most sorghum grown in the U. S. is used as animal feed. However, on a world-wide basis about 30-40% of sorghum is used as food. In certain parts of the world, sorghum is an important food staple. The U. S. produces about 20% of the world sorghum production and exports between 30 and 50% of this production annually. Recently, a sorghum CRIS project was initiated in the Grain Quality and Structure Research Unit at the USDA-ARS GMPRC in Manhattan KS. This CRIS will carry out basic and applied research on sorghum biochemistry and end-use quality and utilization. . As the most drought tolerant cereal grain, sorghum can be grown in areas where other crops cannot. Sorghum represents a source of safe food for people who cannot eat cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye. Sorghum also represents a renewable resource for bio-industrial products such as ethanol, films, gels, and adhesives. To provide the biochemical basis for increasing the utilization of sorghum, this CRIS will focus on several research objectives including the use of sorghum in food and non-food items, the study of antioxidant compounds in sorghum, and the relationship between the physical properties of sorghum and end-use quality.