African Journal of
Food Science

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Food Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0794
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJFS
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 978

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic variation of biochemical characteristics of selected sorghum varieties from East Africa

Kiprotich Felix
  • Kiprotich Felix
  • Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P. O. Box 563-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
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Erick Cheruiyot
  • Erick Cheruiyot
  • Egerton University, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soil, P.O Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
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Charles M. Mwendia
  • Charles M. Mwendia
  • Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P. O. Box 563-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
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Wachira N. Francis
  • Wachira N. Francis
  • Association for strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) P. O. Box 765, Entebbe, Uganda.
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Paul Kimani
  • Paul Kimani
  • Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, P. O. Box 563-20115, Egerton, Kenya.
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  •  Received: 16 February 2015
  •  Accepted: 12 May 2015
  •  Published: 27 May 2015

Abstract

A total of 30 sorghum varieties from East Africa were analysed for their biochemical characteristics. The objective was to ascertain the extent of the genetic diversity underlying their biochemical and physiological characteristics that included starch (%), amylose (%), amylopectin (%), proteins (%), tannins (mg/100 ml), yield (Kg/ha) and height (cm). The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first two contributed to the 69.66% of the variability among the sorghum varieties. Cluster analysis of these parameters resulted into four distinct groups with a genetic distance ranging from 0.74 - 6.42. The open pollinated and the hybrids showed the greatest genetic distances while the hybrids exhibited relatively low genetic distances. The biochemical content is a useful tool for measuring the genetic divergence among sorghum varieties to identify possible donors for future sorghum quality enhancement/breeding.
 
Key words: Biochemical characteristics, principal component analysis, genetic distance, cluster analysis, sorghum breeding.

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