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Drying and processing protocols affect the quantification of cyanogenic glucosides in forage sorghum
Roslyn M Gleadow1, Morten E Møldrup, Natalie H O'Donnell
1School of Biological Science, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Victoria, Australia. ros.gleadow@monash.edu
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
|June 16, 2012
Summary
Air drying forage sorghum leaves is an accurate, low-cost method for analyzing dhurrin (cyanogenic glucoside) content, even in remote field settings. This method preserves dhurrin levels for reliable measurement, crucial for preventing livestock poisoning.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Biochemistry
- Animal Nutrition
Background:
- Cyanogenic glucosides, like dhurrin in forage sorghum, release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN).
- High dhurrin levels in sorghum reduce crop productivity and can be fatal to grazing animals, especially during drought.
- Developing effective sampling protocols for remote areas is critical for managing dhurrin risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop practical and reliable harvesting and sample preparation protocols for dhurrin analysis in forage sorghum.
- To evaluate different drying and storage methods for preserving dhurrin concentration in plant tissues.
- To identify field-suitable methods for assessing dhurrin levels in remote locations.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of dhurrin concentration in fresh, air-dried, oven-dried, and freeze-dried sorghum leaves.
- Analysis of dhurrin using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and cyanide capture methods.
- Assessment of the impact of freezing and grinding on dhurrin conversion to cyanide.
Main Results:
- Air- and oven-drying maintained dhurrin concentration, with no loss during storage.
- Freeze-drying halved dhurrin concentration but preserved endogenous dhurrinase activity.
- Air drying with added β-glucosidase is a cost-effective field method for dhurrin analysis, comparable to expensive LC/MS.
Conclusions:
- Air drying is a suitable, low-cost field method for preparing sorghum tissues for dhurrin analysis, requiring the addition of a specific β-glucosidase.
- Direct LC/MS measurement is accurate but not practical for fieldwork.
- Further studies should explore these methods for other cyanogenic plant species.
