PROTEASE ACTIVITY OF WATER-RECONSTITUTED AND ACID-RECONSTITUTED GRAIN-SORGHUM

Protease activity of grain sorghum as affected by variety, reconstitution with water, and reconstitution with propionic acid was determined. Varieties having smaller kernel size had higher levels of protease activity than a similar variety with larger size kernels. Protease activity was highest on dry grain and declined during anaerobic reconstitution. Reconstitution with 2% w/w propionic acid accelerated the rate of decline of protease activity. Protease activity increased during aerobic reconstitution. The level of soluble nitrogen in propionic acid reconstituted sorghum was greater (P < 0.05) than water-reconstituted grain. This increase in protein solubility of propionic acid reconstituted grains indicates that either initial levels of protease are adequate or that solubilization of proteins is due to factors other than proteases in grain. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.