Water stress increased the flavonoid content in tannin-free sorghum grains

Abstract The effect of water stress on the profile of flavonoids was evaluated in three tannin-containing (SC115, SC60, and SC720) and in three tannin-free (B.Tx635, SA 5330-MARTIN, and SC373) sorghum genotypes. Flavones, flavanones and 3-deoxyanthocyanidins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The water stress x genotype interaction increased the sorghum flavones (ranging from 11.3 to 85.5 µg/g), flavanones (0.14 to 157.2 µg/g) and 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (5.2 to 245.3 µg/g) content. The effect of water stress on 3-deoxyanthocyanidins was related to the presence of tannin in sorghum genotypes. Water stress increased the functional potential of sorghum, especially in tannin-free genotypes, by increasing the flavone, flavanone and 3-deoxyanthocyanidin content.