Effect of fermentation on sorghum protein fractions and in vitro protein digestibility

Changes in pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and proteins ofDabar sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (Linn) Moench.) during naturalfermentation at 37 ^°C for up to 36 h were monitored. The pH ofthe fermenting material decreased sharply with a concomitant increase in the titratable acidity. Total soluble solids increased with progressivefermentation time. The crude protein and non-protein nitrogen slightlyincreased during the last stages of fermentation. The in vitroprotein digestibility markedly increased as a result of fermentation.The globulin plus albumin fractions increased significantly (p 0.05)during the first 8 h of fermentation. Kaffirin fraction decreasedduring the first 8 h of fermentation but increased sharply as fermentationprogressed. Cross-linked kaffirins fluctuated during the fermentationprocess. Glutelin like protein, which was the minor fraction, trueglutelins, the second most abundant fraction, together with non-extractableproteins fluctuated during the fermentation process.