ELSEVIER zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Food Chemistry, Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 243-246, 1998 0 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain PII: SO308-8146(97)00228-8 0308-8146/98 $19.00+0.00 Proximate composition, starch, phytate and mineral contents of 10 pearl millet genotypes zyxwvutsrqponmlkj A. A. Abdalla,” A. H. El Tinay, B. E. Mohamed 81 A. H. Abdalla Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat, Sudan (Received 7 March 1997; revised version received and accepted 3 October 1997) Ten pearl millet genotypes: IS 91777, IS 91666, IS 91333, IS 89111, IS 880004, IS 843, IS 833, Kabti, YD-X3 and Tihama, were used in this study. Investigations showed that pearl millet contained 88-91% dry matter, l&2.4% ash, 2.64.0% crude fibre, 2.7-7.1% oil, 8.>15.1% crude protein, 58-70% starch and 354- 796mgg-i phytic acid. Mineral contents were l&80, 18&270 and 450- 990mgg-’ Ca, Mg and P, respectively, and 7@110, 4-13, 53-70, 18-23, l&l8 and 70-180 pgg-’ K, Na, Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe, respectively. The percentage of phytate to total phosphorus was found to range from 7&89% with an average of 77%. A linear relationship between phytate and total P existed with a correlation coefficient of 0.9805. 0 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTS INTRODUCTION MA TERIA LS AND METHODS Pearl millet (Pennisetum g&cum (L.) R. Br.) is one of the most important drought-tolerant crops of the tropi- cal and subtropical regions of the world; it is able to produce good yields of grain under conditions unfa- vourable to most other cereals. In Sudan, pearl millet is grown as a multipurpose crop, providing food, feed, construction materials and fuel in the rain-fed areas principally in the western region (Dar-fur and Kordofan); it is also cultivated, but to a limited extent, in the eastern, central and southern parts of the country. As a cereal for human food pearl millet contributes a great part of dietary nutrients for large segments of people in Africa and Asia, and is often considered highly palatable, and a good source of protein, minerals and energy. Antinutrients (phytic acid and poly- phenols), present in considerable amounts (Mahajan and Chauhan, 1987) limit protein and starch digest- ibilities (Yoon et al., 1983; Carnovale ef al., 1988) hinder mineral bioavailability. (Harland and Oberlease, 1987), and inhibit proteolytic (Knuckles et al., 1985) and amy- lolytic enzymes (Sharma et al., 1978). The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the chemical composition of 10 pearl millet genotypes and to determine variations in mineral and phytate contents in these cultivars. *To whom correspondence should be addressed. 243 Materials Ten pearl millet genotypes: IS 91777, IS 91666, IS 91333, IS 89111, IS 880004, IS 843, IS 833 (origin, ICRISAT), Kabti, YD-X3 and Tihama (origin, Yemen) were obtained from the Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum. These genotypes had been tested, in hybrid combinations, for grain yield and yield components. Some of them had proved to be of good potential for hybrid production and population improvement (Hazza, 1994). Preparation of sample The seeds of each genotye were cleaned from damaged grain and foreign materials and were milled into fine powder, passing a 0.4mm mesh using a Trecator Cyclotec 1093 Sample Mill. Samples were kept in small clean bottles at 5°C in a refrigerator. Chemical analysis Moisture was determined according to AACC (1980). Ash, fibre and oil were determined according to AOAC (1984). Protein (N x 6.25) was determined according to AOAC (1975). Phosphorus was determined by the method of Chapman and Pratt (1982). Minerals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using an SP 191 Pye-Unicam spectrophotometer.