Effects of steeping and germination time on growth rate and phenolics content of Nigerian Sorghum bicolor and Sorghum vulgare seedlings

Moisture content and enthalpy, growth rates, and phenolics of germinating grains of Sorghum bicolor Moench (SK) and Sorghum vulgare L (LR) were evaluated as functions of steeping time, air‐rest and formalin treatments, and germination time. Results obtained showed that 24‐h steeping gave rise to the highest growth rate, which was greater for LR than SK. The moisture and enthalpy which gave rise to optimum germination rate were 0.48 and 0.48 kg kg−1, 422.69 and 392.32 kJ kg−1 for LR and SK, respectively. Air‐rested steeping effected the maximum growth rate as well as high phenolics retention in the germinated grains. Formalin re‐steeping imparted 71.32 and 68.88 % reduction in phenolics in LR and SK, respectively, while causing very low growth rate in the seedlings. However, no significant difference was found (P = 0.05) between FRS and low‐temperature steeping for the two parameters.