EVALUATION OF FOUR SORGHUM HYBRIDS THROUGH THE ...

The cleaned grain was then analyzed using the Single Kernel Characterization
System (SKCS) 4100 (Perten Instruments, Inc., Springfield, IL) as described in Bean and
others (2006). Averages and standard deviations of 300 kernels are reported for all
measurements.
Kernel Abrasive Hardness:
A tangential abrasive dehulling device or TADD (Venebles Machine Works,
Saskatoon, Canada) was used to determine the abrasive hardness of the kernels for each
of the four hybrids as described in Oomah and others (1981). An 80-grit abrasive,
supplied by the manufacturer, was used.
Flour Characterization
Starch Isolation:
This procedure used sonication to isolate the starch similar to that done by Park
and others (2006). Prior to the four hybrids, practice run throughs were achieved with
Twin Valley Mill sorghum flour (Twin Valley Mills, LLC, Ruskin, NE) to ensure proper
isolation.
The flours were prepared with the decorticated grain from the abrasion hardness
experiment. The decorticated grain was milled with a Cyclone sample mill (Udy
Corporation, Fort Collins, CO) and collected into sealable plastic bags.
In preparation for starch isolation, 500ml of pH 10 buffer was made. First, 50ml
of 12.5mM sodium borate pH 10 was prepared with 0.21g of boric acid and 1.1g of borax
in 50ml of distilled water. This solution was then diluted to 500ml with distilled water
and 2.5g SDS and 2.5g of sodium metabisulfite were dissolved in the mixture. The
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