Sorghum malting quality as affected by availability of suitable cultivars

Abstract

Malting quality of grain samples of commercially available malting class sorghum cultivars was determined over five seasons and three localities for each season. The number of cultivars included in the National Sorghum Cultivar Trials has declined in recent years. The aim of the study was to determine the malting status of current South African sorghum cultivars and to determine whether less suitable cultivars have lowered malting standards. All malting parameters were significantly influenced by season. Seasonal effects on diastatic power were greater than locality and cultivar effects. Malting quality during the 2000/01 season was poor. The malting quality of the total group of GM Class cultivars for each season and three cultivars included in trials over all five seasons were found to be similarly influenced by seasonal effects. The lower malting quality of cultivars recorded during seasons such as 2000/01 was not due to cultivars being less suitable, but was caused by seasonal effects.