Cereal Chem 69:440-443 | VIEW
ARTICLE
Content and Composition of Nonstarchy Polysaccharides in Endosperms of Sorghums Varying in Hardness.
R. Kavitha and A. Chandrashekar. Copyright 1992 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc.
Nonstarchy polysaccharide content and composition in the endosperm of sorghum grains varying in hardness was estimated. Soft grains appeared to contain more water-soluble and water-insoluble nonstarchy polysaccharide, whereas the hard grains contained more cellulose. There was more pentose than hexose and more arabinose than xylose in the water-insoluble nonstarchy polysaccharide in soft grains than there was in hard grains. Similar but more pronounced differences were seen between hard and soft portions of the endosperm within kernels. Varietal differences in nonstarchy polysaccharide content and composition reflected compositional differences between the two endosperm types. The presence of linear hemicelluloses and cellulose in cell walls of the hard grains and hard portions of the endosperm may have contributed to rigidity and strength.