Nutritional composition of sorghum [sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes cultivated without and with water stress

The carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fibers (Neutral Detergent Fiber - NDF) and ash contents of 100 sorghum genotypes were evaluated and superior materials for each nutrient were identified. The genotypes were grown in environments without (WoWS) and with post-flowering water stress (WthWS). Tocher analysis grouped data into 9 clusters showing great variability for the nutritional characteristics, which were not influenced by race or place of origin. The carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fibers and ash contents had, respectively, the following variations: 55.2-75.2%; 8.6-18.9%; 1.7-4.9%; 9.3-25.2% and 1.1-2.4%, in both environments. The best results were identified in the genotypes BR007B, SC59 and SC1033 for carbohydrates, SC325, SC320 and SC124 for proteins, SC35, N268B and Lian Tang Ai for lipids, SC673, SC467 and (SN142) REDBINE SA386-60 (ASA N98) for fiber and SC224, SC566, SC467 and SC1356 for ash. The carbohydrate, protein and ash contents were lower and the fiber was higher in samples grown in the environment with water stress. Lipids were not affected by the water stress. The genotypes listed above have great potential to develop cultivars with high nutritional value, especially to arid and semi-arid regions and may contribute to food security.