PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PEARL MILLET CULTIVARS GROWN IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Thirty-one millet cultivars grown in Northern Nigeria were evaluated for physical properties and chemical composition. The physico-chemical characteristics were also correlated. There were wide variations in thousand-kernel weight (8.1–12.1 g) and volume (5.8–10.0 ml), grain hardness (30.3–68.0 N), per cent floaters (31.0–95.0%), in addition to considerable variations in protein (9.6–12.7%), fat (3.3–5.2%), crude fibre (1.2–4.4%) and tannin (0.0–2.8% catechin equivalent) contents. The grain hardness correlated positively with crude protein (r=0.687, P<0.01). Crude protein content correlated positively with grain major diameter (r=0.538, P<0.01), thickness (r=0.529, P<0.01) and correlated negatively with carbohydrate (r=−0.473, P<0.01). The density of the grain showed significant positive correlation, with grain hardness (r=0.435, P<0.01), grain thickness (r=0.568, P<0.01) and moisture content (r=0.430, P<0.01) but negative correlated (r=−0.403, P<0.01) with per cent floaters.

Keywords:

• Pearl millet
• Crude protein
• Grain hardness
• Grain thickness
• Density

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported in part by ROCAFREMI (A French word meaning, West and Central Africa Millet Research Network-WCAMRN). The technical support of Messrs I. Agarawai and E.O. Adejunio, both of Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Nigeria, is gratefully acknowledged.