Environmental effect on flavonoid concentrations and profiles of red and lemon-yellow sorghum grains

Pigmented sorghum genotypes high in flavonoids have been developed in recent years. Flavonoid levels of seven sorghum genotypes grown in four locations in Texas, USA were evaluated to assess the relative genotype, environment and genotype × environment effects. Sorghums from Halfway were highly weathered which affected flavonoid levels. Two flavanones, four 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, and two flavones were detected and quantified. Weathered grains had the lowest flavanone levels (303 μg/g) and the highest 3-deoxyanthocyanidins levels (82 μg/g). Only genotype 99LGWO50 had high levels of flavones (255 μg/g). For all flavonoids there was a genotype × environment interaction effect (p < 0.01), which suggested that environment had a different effect on flavonoid levels depending on the genotype. Red and lemon-yellow genotypes must be evaluated in multiple environments to identify the best genotype to obtain the highest yields of specific flavonoid compounds.