Cyanogenic Potential of Sorghum Species grown in Punjab, Pakistan LGU J. Life Sci 5(2): LGUJLS MS.ID- 122 (2021) 142 Research Article LGU J. Life. Sci Vol 5 Issue 2 April-June 2021 ISSN 2519-9404 eISSN 2521-0130 Avais et al. LGU. J. Life Sci. 2021 LGU Journal of LGU Society of LIFE SCIENCES Life Sciences Cyanogenic Potential of Sorghum Species (fodder crops) grown in Tehsil Burewala, Punjab, Pakistan Muhammad Avais 1 , Jawaria Ali Khan 1 , Sajid Hameed 3 , Imtiaz Ahmad 4 , Muhammad Awais 1 , Kamran Ashraf 2 , Muhammad Sarwar Khan 1 1. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science at UVAS, Lahore 2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000 (Pakistan) 3. University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan 4. Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu Kashmir * Corresponding Author’s Email: mavais@uvas.edu.pk ABSTRACT: In this study cyanide levels and factors affecting cyanide levels in various sorghum species were determined. A total of 500 samples of various sorghum species were collected from the crop fields of different areas of Tehsil Burewala, Pakistan. They included 100 samples each of Sorghum bicolor, S. sudanese, Jumbo grass (S. bicolor x S. sudanese hybrid), S. halepense and maize. An estimation of cyanide levels in the samples was performed spectrophotometerically using the picrate kit method. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between CN contents of Jumbo grass (211.7±9.086 mg/kg) and S. halepense (244.9±9.659 mg/kg). Jumbo grass and S. halepense have significantly higher (P<0.05) CN concentrations than S . bicolor or S . sudanese but the CN contents of S . halepense were significantly higher than Jumbo grass . Maize has significantly lower (P<0.05) values of CN contents (6.6±0.529 mg/kg) than any of S. bicolor, S. sudanese, Jumbo grass or S. halepense. All species showed a gradual increase in CN contents with increase in height of the plants. The CN contents in leaves of all plants species were significantly higher (P<0.05) than CN contents of stem. In conclusion Jumbo grass and S . halepense possess higher cyanogenic potential compared to S . bicolor or S . Sudanese, and cyanide content increases gradually with increasing height of plants up to 91-100 cm. At greater heights, CN content gradually decreases in all plant species. In conclusion, the CN content can vary among plant species and among varieties of the same species as well as during different growth stages. Key words: Cyanogenic glycosides; Sorghum bicolor; Sorghum halepense; picrate method