Abstract
The location and physical and chemical properties of the pigments in 15 varieties and hybrids of sorghum seeds were investigated. The pigments were found to be located mainly in the stylar area, the epicarp, and the endocarp. The stylar area exhibited orange pigmentation in each of the 15 varieties and hybrids examined. The epicarp and the endocarp were orange in color in the red varieties, and yellow in the yellow and the white or ivory varieties. When colored specks were visible on the surface of the seed, the epicarp, the mesocarp, and the endocarp exhibited orange pigmentation. A procedure was developed to isolate the different pigments in sorghum seeds and it is described and discussed. Seven pigments were isolated from the different varieties and hybrids. Two apigeninidin-type pigments and two luteolinidin-type pigments were present in each variety or hybrid investigated. Another apigeninidin-type pigment was isolated from three of the red varieties. A purple anthocyanin-type pigment was present in one of the yellow varieties, and another yellow pigment was isolated from two other varieties.
Nip, Wai-Kit (1969). Pigment characteristics of the seed of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -175244.