Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Sour Starches from Different Cassava Varieties

This article reports our investigation on the effect of cassava varieties on the physicochemical and functional properties of sour starches. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the ash, pH, amylose, amylopectin, starch damage, total titratable acidity (TTA), sugar, and starch content but not moisture contents of various cassava sour starches. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in Water Absorption Capacity (WAC), swelling power, and solubility index, while significant differences were recorded in Least Gelation Concentration (LGC) and color at 5% level and granule size at P < 0.0001 for cassava sour starches. Peak viscosity values ranged from 333.17RVU (clone 4(2) 1425) to 380.75RVU (clone TME 1). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in pasting properties except for pasting temperature and breakdown.     

Flour,starch and alternative (wheatless) breadmaking quality of various cassava clones

Alternative (wheatless) cassava breads were made with cassava flour from eight different cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) clones fortified with soya flour (200 g kg^?1 total flour) using margarine and egg white, or xanthan, as additives. In this study, bread specific volumes were reliably predicted from only the diastatic activity and maximum paste viscosity of the cassava flour, although further variables still need to be investigated. Flours with diastatic activities above ～ 145 mg of maltose, and indirectly low maximum paste viscosities, produced dense, pudding-like structures with completely gelatinised crumbs. The flour diastatic activity was dependent on the moisture content of the freshly harvested tuberous root; above a critical threshold moisture (～ 75 %) content the specific air intake of the loaves decreased sharply. The extent of starch gelatinisation and solubilisation did not critically affect loaf volumes but affected crumb structures.     

Physicochemical characteristics of starches and flours from cassava varieties having different cooked root textures

Starches and flours from 12 cassava varieties having differences in cooked root texture - mealy, firm and mealy & firm - were investigated, with a particular focus on aspects of physicochemical characteristics. It was found that chemical composition (protein, lipid, fiber, ash), pasting properties, firmness of gel, thermal properties, morphology and granular size distribution and crystalline pattern of starches from the 12 varieties were not significantly different. On the contrary, cassava flours which consisted of both starch and non-starch components exhibited wider variations in these properties, especially pasting properties and firmness of gel, than the starches. All flour samples had lower paste viscosities than their corresponding starches. Pasting temperatures of flours were in a range of 70-74 ^°C, which was higher than those of starches (67-70 ^°C). Fluctuation in the values of pasting parameters of flours among the varieties was associated with the variations in the chemical composition and α-amylase activity, i.e. paste viscosity and setback were positively correlated to starch content and negatively correlated to α-amylase activity, while protein, lipid and fiber did not show correlation with pasting parameters. Cassava starches from all varieties, except the F-18 variety, had higher firmness of gels than their corresponding flours. Firmness values (except the F-18 variety) of starches were in a range of 149-207 g, whereas those of flours were 75-163 g. Firmness of flour gels was negatively correlated to lipid and fiber content, while strong positive correlation was found with the amylase activity.     

Some properties of corn grains and their flours I: Physicochemical,functional and chapati-making properties of flours

The variability in physical (1000 kernel weight and bulk density) and mechanical (rupture force) properties of grains from different Indian corn varieties (African tall, Ageti, Early composite, Girja, Navjot, Parbhat, Partap, Pb sathi and Vijay) were studied. The functional (colour, gelatinization, retrogradation and pasting) and chapati-making properties of flours milled from corn varieties were evaluated. African tall flour showed the highest enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel), peak-, trough-, breakdown-, final-, and setback viscosities, and L^∗ (84.4) value and resulted in chapaties with higher extensibility (5.76 mm) and of light colour. African tall flour, with the lowest protein content, showed the lowest grain rupture force. Amylose content and hardness of starch gel from African tall were found to be the lowest among all corn varieties. Girja flour, with the lowest transition temperatures and ΔH_gel, showed the lowest extensibility of chapaties made from it. Pearson correlations between physical and textural properties of corn grains and the functional properties of their flours were established. Rupture force of corn grain and protein content of flour showed a negative correlation with peak viscosity of flour (r = −0.917, and −0.863, p < 0.01). The protein content of flours was negatively correlated with L^∗ (r = −0.759, p < 0.01) value and positively with b^∗ (r = 0.635, p < 0.01) value. Pasting temperature of flours showed a significant negative correlation with peak, trough, breakdown, final and setback viscosities (r = −0.836, −0.846, −0.778, −0.871, and −0.847, respectively, p < 0.01). Pearson correlation was also established between the grain and starch properties. Rupture force of corn grains was positively correlated with the amylose content of starch (r = 0.950, p < 0.01).     

In vitro starch digestibility,expected glycemic index,and thermal and pasting properties of flours from pea,lentil and chickpea cultivars

In vitro starch digestibility, expected glycemic index (eGI), and thermal and pasting properties of flours from pea, lentil and chickpea grown in Canada under identical environmental conditions were investigated. The protein content and gelatinization transition temperatures of lentil flour were higher than those of pea and chickpea flours. Chickpea flour showed a lower amylose content (10.8–13.5%) but higher free lipid content (6.5–7.1%) and amylose–lipid complex melting enthalpy (0.7–0.8 J/g). Significant differences among cultivars within the same species were observed with respect to swelling power, gelatinization properties, pasting properties and in vitro starch digestibility, especially chickpea flour from desi (Myles) and kabuli type (FLIP 97-101C and 97-Indian2-11). Lentil flour was hydrolyzed more slowly and to a lesser extent than pea and chickpea flours. The amount of slowly digestible starch (SDS) in chickpea flour was the highest among the pulse flours, but the resistant starch (RS) content was the lowest. The eGI of lentil flour was the lowest among the pulse flours.     

Flour,starch and composite breadmaking quality of various cassava clones

Bread was made using a straight-dough baking process from a local soft wheat flour partially substituted at four levels with flour from nine different cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) clones. The physicochemical properties of the blended flouts, including starch quality, were determined and related to dough rheology, bread volume and crumb characteristics. Breadmaking quality at substitution levels of 100 and 200 g kg^?1 of mixed flour was reliably predicted from the cassava flour diastatic activity only. Flours with relatively high diastatic activities, ie above ～ 145 mg of maltose, had deleterious breadmaking effects. Baking absorption effects were more critical at substitution levels of 300 and 400 g kg^?1. Cassava flour diastatic activity was highly dependent on the moisture contents of the respective tuberous roots, and affected the extent of starch gelatinisation in the breadcrumbs.     

Functionality Enhancement of Composite Cassava Flour in the Production of Maize Tuwo (A Non-fermented Maize-Based Food Dumpling)

The study was focused on the evaluation of textural and sensory quality enhancing functionality of cassava flour in the production of maize tuwo (a non-fermented maize-based food dumpling). The cassava flour was added to maize flour at the level of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% (w/w), respectively. The bulk density and water holding capacity of maize/cassava flour mixes ranged from 0.77–0.83 g/cm³ and 1.91–2.05 g/g, respectively, while those of 100% maize flour were 0.84 g/cm³ and 2.09 g/g, respectively. There were variations in the pasting properties of maize/cassava flour mixes including the pasting temperature (75.4–78.8°C), peak viscosity (112.1–170.0 RVU), breakdown viscosity (38.4–53.7 RVU) and final viscosity (132.1–142.2 RVU), while those of 100% maize flour were 74.6°C, 108.1 RVU, 38.1 RVU and 148.3 RVU, respectively. The colour characteristics of tuwo prepared from maize/cassava flour mixes showed an increase in the colour lightness, L*-value (68.6–71.8) and chroma, C-value (9.4–11.4) while tuwo from 100% maize flour gave 67.7 and 9.1, respectively. The cohesiveness indexes (15.4–24.2%) of tuwo from maize/cassava flour mixes increased with an increase in the quantity of cassava flour in the mix while that from 100% maize flour was 15.2%. The softness indexes (17.5–18.4°mm) of tuwo from the mixes were also higher than that from 100% maize flour (17.4°mm). The sensory quality rating of tuwo from maize/cassava flour mixes showed that tuwo from 25% cassava flour inclusion was the highest in terms of texture (hand-mouldability), taste and overall acceptability while that from 30% cassava flour inclusion was the highest in terms of colour.     

Structure and physicochemical properties of palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) seed-shoot starch grown in Sri Lanka

Starch from palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) seed-shoot flour was isolated and its composition, morphology, structure and physicochemical properties were determined. The yield of starch was 38.4% on a whole flour basis. The shape of the granule ranged from round to elliptical. Bound lipid, total lipid, apparent amylose, total amylose and resistant starch contents were 0.03%, 0.04%, 30.9%, 32.7% and 32.2%, respectively. The X-ray pattern was of the A-type and relative crystallinity was 34.1%. Palmyrah starch exhibited a high proportion (31.8%) of short amylopectin chains (DP 6–12) and a low proportion (1.2%) of long amylopectin chains (DP > 36). Gelatinization temperatures were 73.1–82.0 °C and enthalpy of gelatinization was 13.6 J/g. Pasting temperature, viscosity breakdown and set-back were 76.5 °C, 147 and 74 BU, respectively. Palmyrah starch exhibited high granular swelling, and restricted amylose leaching. Susceptibility towards in vitro α-amylolysis and retrogradation was low. The results showed that physicochemical properties of palmyrah starch were largely influenced by strong interactions between amylose–amylose and/or amylose–amylopectin chains within the granule interior.     

Genotypic diversity in physico-chemical,pasting and gel textural properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Twenty chickpea cultivars were evaluated for genetic diversity in seeds (physical, hydration and cooking), flours (composition, pasting and gel textural) and starch (swelling, thermal, amylose content and amylopectin structure) properties. Frequency distribution and principal component analysis revealed significant differences among the cultivars studied. Pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity and setback of flours ranged from 75.0 to 87.1 °C, 564 to 853 cP, 32 to 123 cP, 573 to 969 cP, and 84 to 185 cP, respectively. Amylose content of starch ranged from 28.26% to 52.82%. Amylopectin unit chains of DP 6–12, 13–18, 19–24 and 25–30 ranged from 36.2% to 43.25%, 36.44% to 38.68%, 14.86% to 18.22% and 4.95% to 6.9%, respectively. To establish the relationships between different properties Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were computed. Cluster analysis for grain and flour characteristics was also done to see the association between chickpea cultivars.     

Physicochemical properties of five cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium) starches

Physicochemical properties of starches of five cocoyam cultivars were evaluated. CIE L^*, a^*, b^* colour parameters of corm and starches were measured. Amylose, pasting and functional properties of the starches were investigated using colourimetric, Rapid Visco-Analyser and standard methods respectively. Cocoyam starches were white in colour as shown by L^* (84.83–88.65), a^* (+0.01–+1.19), and b^* (+15.33–+16.54) values. Starch granule sizes varied significantly in length (6.47–13.63 μm) and width (5.36–8.45 μm), while amylose content ranged from 11.55% (NCe002) to 33.77% (NXs001). Peak (49.09–141.96 RVU), breakdown (49.09–141.96 RVU), final (189.79–327.42 RVU) viscosities, pasting temperature (84.53–88.75 °C) and time (4.55–4.97 min) varied significantly (p < 0.05) among cultivars. Also, water absorption capacity (21–36%), pH (4.8–5.3), gelling point (60.5–69.5 °C), foam capacity (4.46–18.28%), bulk density (0.14–1.15 g/mL) and swelling power (2.31–10.09) varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the cultivars. Average yield of the starches varied significantly from 10.03 (NCe001) to 18.61% (NXs001).     

Pre-treatment effect on the nutritional and functional properties of selected cassava-based composite flours

The low protein and lack of gluten in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) are disadvantageous for its use for product development and is overcome through the use of composite flours incorporating cereal and/or legume flours. The functionality and nutritional attributes of cassava flour were altered in the present study by pre-treatment with termamyl and green gram amylase, pre-gelatinization and subsequent blending with cereals, legumes, bran sources etc. Malting of cassava flour with termamyl followed by pre-gelatinization reduced the starch and increased the sugar content of the mixes. Pre-gelatinization had little effect on the crude protein of the mixes; nevertheless, the fat content was higher by 0.15–1.0 units. Energy content was around 1176 and 1217 KJ/100 g for the rice bran added mixes from malted cassava, which slightly increased in the respective pre-gelatinized cassava mixes. The peak viscosity of termamyl treated cassava-based flour mixes was much lower than the respective gram amylase based mixes, indicating that the latter had much less amylolytic activity than termamyl and pre-gelatinization further reduced the viscosity. The very low viscosity for the enzyme treated cassava-based mixes was due to the inability for retrogradation of the hydrolyzed starch. Significant improvement in in vitro starch digestibility (IVSD) (enhancement by 5.0–16.0 units in termamyl treatment vs 5.0–9.0 units in gram amylase treatment) was observed for the pre-gelatinized mixes. Lowest IVSD (25–29 units) was for the two bran based mixes, suggesting its use in the nutrition therapy for controlling obesity linked diseases.

Industrial relevance

With the development in human society, the incidence of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problems and conditions like obesity contributing to several diseases is on the increase. This has led to an increasing awareness and research efforts on the development of functional foods, pharmafoods etc, which have wide potential application in medical nutrition therapy. The present work aims at improving the nutritional and functional attributes of cassava through fortification with cereal and/ or legume flours, bran sources etc. and through pre- treatment with enzymes to improve the functionality and reduce the energy content. The study led to the development of cassava based composite flours with low starch digestibility, high protein content and low energy content which could be effectively utilized for developing designer foods for obese and diabetic people. Enhanced digestibility of pre- gelatinized malted flours from cassava finds potential application for the development of foods for geriatric and convalescent people.     

损伤淀粉含量对米粉理化性质的影响

采用不同粉碎方法得到损伤淀粉含量不同的米粉,研究了损伤淀粉含量对米粉性质的影响。结果表明随着损伤淀粉含量的增加,米粉的总直链淀粉没有明显差异,可溶性直链淀粉和溶解度显著升高,溶胀度变化不大而透明度则显著降低。快速黏度分析(RVA)表明糊化温度由89.2℃降低到86.2℃,回生值由89.58 RVU降低到59.33 RVU,峰值黏度由139.29 RVU降低到85.08 RVU,谷值黏度由103.67 RVU降低到49.04 RVU,末值黏度由180.67 RVU降低到108.38 RVU。损伤淀粉含量9.05%米粉的衰减值最低。糊化后米粉凝胶的硬度和弹性显著降低。     

Physicochemical and functional properties of whole legume flour

The physicochemical, functional and pasting properties of whole flours from pinto bean, lima bean, red kidney bean, black bean, navy bean, small red bean, black eye bean, mung bean, lentil and chickpea were investigated. Significant differences in physicochemical characteristics and functional properties were observed (P < 0.05). Bulk densities, water absorption indices, water solubility indices, oil absorption capacities, emulsion activities, and emulsion stabilities ranged from 0.543 g/mL to 0.816 g/mL, 4.09 g/g to 6.13 g/g, 19.44 g/100 g to 29.14 g/100 g, 0.93 g/g to 1.38 g/g, 61.14%–92.20%, and 84.15%–96.90%, respectively. Phaseolus legume flour exhibited higher water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, emulsion activity, and emulsion stability compared with other kinds of legume flour. Pasting properties were significantly different (P < 0.05). Pasting temperatures and the peak, final, and setback viscosities of the flours ranged from 73.2 °C to 83.0 °C, 96.2 RVU to 216.8 RVU, 118.5 RVU to 243.8 RVU, and 28.3 RVU to 103.2 RVU, respectively.     

Comparing physicochemical properties of banana pulp and peel flours prepared from green and ripe fruits

Banana pulp and peel flour prepared from green and ripe Cavendish banana were assessed for physicochemical properties such as pH, total soluble solids (TSS), water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC) at 40, 60 and 80 °C, colour values L^∗, a^∗ and b^∗, back extrusion force (BEF) and viscosity. Data obtained were analysed by MANOVA, discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. All statistical analyses showed that physicochemical properties of flour prepared from pulp and peel, and green and ripe banana were different from each other. TSS, WHC40, WHC60 and BEF can be used to discriminate between peel and pulp flour, whilst TSS and viscosity can be used to discriminate between flour prepared from green and ripe banana.     

Diversity in seed and flour properties in field pea (Pisum sativum) germplasm

The genetic diversity in agronomic, seeds (physicochemical, hydration, textural and cooking) and flour (pasting and gel texture) characteristics amongst 71 field pea lines was studied. L∗-, a∗-, b∗-values, seed weight, density, hydration capacity, swelling capacity and cooking time ranged between 43.6 and 67.1, −2.3 and 6.2, 5.8 and 17.4, 4.26 and 25.65 g/100 seeds, 0.55 and 2.01 g/ml, 0.05 and 0.31 g/seed, 0.02 and 0.76 ml/seed and 45 and 81 min, respectively. Amylose content of starch ranged between 21.4% and 58.3%. Pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity and setback of flours from different lines ranged from 73.5 to 81.5 °C, 533 to 3000, 8 to 187, 121 to 2276, and 183 to 998 cP, respectively. The frequency distribution and principal component analysis revealed significant variation in quality traits amongst the 71 field pea lines.     

Comparative study of the functional,thermal and pasting properties of flours from different field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) cultivars

Physicochemical, functional, thermal and pasting properties of flours from field pea (LFP-48 and PG-3) and pigeon pea (AL-15 and AL-201) cultivars were determined and related to each other using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Field pea flours (FPF) were significantly (P < 0.05) different from pigeon pea flours (PPF) in their lower ash and higher fat and protein contents. FPF also exhibited higher L^∗, ΔE value, water solubility index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC) and lower a^∗, b^∗ value, water absorption index (WAI) and water absorption capacity (WAC) in comparison to PPF. FPF differed significantly from PPF in exhibiting lower transition temperatures (T_o, T_p, T_c), enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel), peak height index (PHI) and higher gelatinization temperature range (R). PCA showed that LFP-48 and PG-3 flours were located at the far left of the score plot with a large negative score, while the AL-15 and AL-201 flours had large positive scores in the first principal component. Several significant correlations between functional, thermal and pasting properties were revealed, both by Pearson correlation and PCA. Pasting properties of the flours, measured using the rapid visco analyzer (RVA), also differed significantly. PPF were observed to have higher pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity (TV), breakdown (BV), final viscosity (FV) and lower setback viscosity (SV) as compared to FPF.     

Amaranthus hypochondriacus and Amaranthus caudatus germplasm: Characteristics of plants,grain and flours

In the present study, the plant, grain and flour characteristics of 48 Amaranthus hypochondriacus and 11 Amaranthus caudatus lines are reported. A. hypochondriacus grains had a higher thousand kernel weight (0.62–0.88 g), a creamish yellow colour (L∗ = 61.38–68.29, b∗ = 5.26–6.8 and a∗ = 19.71–23.84), whereas A. caudatus grains had a lower thousand kernel weight (0.46–0.70 g) and a reddish-brown colour (L∗ = 47.1–51.2, b∗ = 11.82–14.02 and a∗ = 7.72–13.29). The A. caudatus lines had a higher protein content, fat content and tendency for retrogradation, and lower α-amylase activity as compared to A. hypochondriacus lines. The Amaranthus lines with higher a∗-values and lower thousand kernel weight, L∗- and b∗-values, had a higher fat, crude fibre and protein content. The correlation of fat and crude fibre content with the thousand kernel weight, L∗-, a∗- and b∗-values, was significant. The A. hypochondriacus lines showed higher pasting temperature, and lower peak viscosity, breakdown and setback, as compared to the A. caudatus lines. The result reflected that the lines with higher α-amylase activity showed a lower peak viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity and gel hardness, and a higher pasting temperature.     

A study of the effect of the drying process on the composition and physicochemical properties of flours obtained from durian fruits of two ripening stages

Durian cv. Monthong with two ripening stages (unripe and fully ripe) was subjected to microwave vacuum drying (MWD) at 5.49 W g^?1 and hot air drying (HAD) at 60 °C. With an increase in ripening degree, the starch content was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased from 40.08–40.42% to 9.44–11.76%. X‐ray diffraction indicated that the crystalline pattern was changed from starch to sucrose. The starch granule morphology of durian flour was conserved for both drying conditions. Peak gelatinisation temperatures of MWD and HAD flours were increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) from 56.71–57.32 to 60.71–61.23 °C. Using different drying methods, MWD flour had less a*‐value (P ≤ 0.05) than HAD flour. The peak viscosity and trough of the HAD unripe durian flour (5.92 RVU and 3.45 RVU, respectively) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower than those of the MWD unripe durian flour (34.32 RVU and 11.57 RVU, respectively).     

Influence of enzyme active and inactive soy flours on cassava and corn starch properties

The aim of this work was to study the influence of enzyme active and inactive soy flours on the properties of cassava and corn starches. Four starch/soy flour composites were evaluated: cassava/active soy flour (Cas/AS), cassava/inactive soy flour (Cas/IS), corn/active soy flour (Corn/AS) and corn/inactive soy flour (Corn/IS). Starch gelatinization occurred at 58.67°C for Cas and at 64.19°C for corn; gelatinization occurred at higher temperatures when soy flours were present, while ΔH diminished. The presence of AS reduced 80% the retrogradation enthalpy of Cas and 40% that of corn. Cas presented lower pasting temperature than corn starch (67.8 and 76.8°C, respectively) and higher peak viscosity (427.9 and 232.8 BU, respectively). The pasting properties of both starches were drastically reduced by soy flours, and this effect was more noticeable in Cas; AS had higher effect than IS. X‐ray diffraction pattern of retrograded samples showed that both starches recrystallisation (mainly that of Cas) was reduced when AS was added. Tan δ values decreased with AS addition to corn, but they increased when added to Cas. The images obtained using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that IS was distributed as large aggregates, whereas AS distribution was more homogeneous, especially when incorporated to Cas. These results show that cassava starch interacts specifically with active soy flour (AS, mainly in native state). The delaying effect of AS on cassava starch retrogradation was clearly shown. This finding could be useful in obtaining gluten‐free breads of high quality and low retrogradation rate.     

Physicochemical properties of cassava,potato and jicama starches oxidised with organic acids

The oxidising effects of organic (acetic, citric and lactic) acids on the physicochemical properties of starches from cassava, potato and jicama were investigated. Cassava starch oxidised with lactic and citric acids had the highest carbonyl contents (5.43 and 5.84 g kg^?1 respectively), while oxidised potato starch had the highest carboxyl contents. Oxidised jicama starch showed the lowest carbonyl and carboxyl contents. Oxidation increased the maximum viscosity of cassava starch (from 426.61 to 670.11 relative viscosity units (RVU)) and jicama starch (from 160.17 to 561.50 RVU) but decreased that of potato starch (from 669.44 to 206.92 RVU). When carbonyl and carboxyl groups were incorporated into jicama starch granules, the resistance of these granules to stirring at constant temperature (holding) increased, as did their final and retrogradation viscosities. However, the behaviour of oxidised cassava and potato starches, as indicated by a Rapid Visco Analyser, was different. The highest values of endotherm enlargement were found for native and oxidised jicama starch, while the lowest values were found for native and oxidised cassava starch. Native and oxidised potato starch had the highest enthalpy values (14.30–18.30 J g^?1), while jicama starch had the lowest (9.50–11.9 J g^?1). The high intrinsic viscosity of native potato starch was attributed to B‐type starch with a longer‐than‐average amylopectin chain length and a lower degree of crystallinity. Oxidised granules showed little erosion in the form of grooves; on the contrary, oxidation left the grains with a very smooth surface. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry