Effect of physiological maturation on the production and quality of seeds and on the Industial output of sweet sorghum.

Abstract

This work reports an experiment with the cultivar BR 501 of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), conducted in randomized blocks at the ESALQ, USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The sorghum was harvested weekly following and data were taken on agronomic and technological characteristics and on seeds analysis as well. Harvesting date seemed not to have any effect on plant height and on the defoliated stalks; it affected however, seed production. As maturation progressed juice percentage and reductive sugars showed a decreasing trend; Brix, total sugars, apparent sucrose percent and purity increased more noticeably after 33 days, following whereas ash content on the juice did not vary. Seed black layer was considered to be a good characteristics to identify seed physiological maturity. This layer appeared when the seeds had maximum values of dry matter, germination and vigour. Stalk physiological maturation followed seed physiological maturation.