Characterization of protein isolates from different Indian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars

Protein isolates prepared by alkaline solubilization followed by isoelectric precipitation and freeze drying from desi (PBG-1, PDG-4, PDG-3, GL-769, and GPF-2) and kabuli (L-550) chickpea cultivars were evaluated for functional (water and oil absorption capacities, least gelation concentration, foaming capacity and stability) and thermal properties. Significant difference (P ? 0.05) in properties of kabuli and desi chickpea protein isolates was observed. Kabuli chickpea protein isolate showed significantly (P ? 0.05) higher ash (1.14%), protein (94.4%), L^∗, ΔE value, oil absorption capacity (OAC) and lower water absorption capacity (WAC) than their corresponding desi chickpea protein isolates. The solubility-pH profile of different protein isolates showed minimum solubility in the pH between 4.0 and 5.0 and two regions of maximum solubility at pH 2.5 and 7.0. Foaming capacity of all protein isolates increased with the increase in concentration. Kabuli chickpea protein isolate showed the highest foam stability (94.7%) after 120 min of storage. The thermal properties of protein isolates from different chickpea cultivars were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Protein isolates from both the chickpea types differed significantly (P ? 0.05) in peak denaturation temperature (T_d) and heat of transition (ΔH). Kabuli type protein isolate exhibited lower T_d and ΔH value as compared to those from desi types. The interrelationships between characteristics of protein isolates showed a significant (P ? 0.05) negative correlation of T_d with protein content and OAC. It was also observed that cultivars with high fat content had high ΔH and lower WAC.     

Physico-chemical properties of potato starches

Starches were isolated and characterised from 10 potato cultivars grown under the same conditions (with a commercial starch for reference). The chemical composition revealed some differences amongst the starches with protein ranging from 0.30% to 0.34%, amylose 25.2% to 29.1% and phosphorus 52.6–66.2 mg 100 g⁻¹. High performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) fractionation of isoamylase debranched amylopectin showed that the amylopectin molecules were less branched and consisted of more B1, but less A-chains, than cereal starches. Gelatinisation onset (T_o), peak (T_p) and conclusion (T_c) temperatures of the native potato starches ranged from 58.7 to 62.5 °C, 62.5 to 66.1 °C and 68.7 to 72.3 °C, respectively, whilst the gelatinisation enthalpies ranged from 15.1 to 18.4 J g⁻¹. The gelatinisation temperatures of the starches increased in common with the amounts of short and intermediate sized amylopectin chains. The ¹³C magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C CP-MAS NMR) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) data (30.6% ± 0.22% crystallinity on average) showed little variance amongst the samples. Particle sizing results, however, revealed more variance (20.6–30.9 μm mean diameter). Overall, these data reveal the subtleties of cultivar specific variation against a background of constant environmental conditions.     

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.     

Formation of starch spherulites: Role of amylose content and thermal events

Commercial maize starches and potato starches of two cultivars differing in physicochemical composition (granule size distribution; amylose to amylopectin ratio) and crystallinity were heated to 180 °C and then cooled by fast quench using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), in order to produce spherulitic starch morphologies. Among the raw maize starches, waxy maize starch had highest relative crystallinity (49%) whereas a lowest crystallinity of 33–39% was calculated for high-amylose maize starches. Potato starches showed a relative crystallinity of 50%. The temperatures and enthalpies of gelatinisation and melting varied among all the starches. High-amylose maize starches showed higher transition temperatures of gelatinisation (T_gel), whereas waxy maize starch had lowest T_gel and enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH_gel). Similarly, a considerable variation in parameters related with crystalline melting (T_m1, T_m2 and ΔH_m1, ΔH_m2) was observed for different starches. The superheated gels of different starches treated using DSC were subjected to polarised microscopy, to confirm the formation of spherulites. Both the high-amylose starch gels showed the presence of spherulites exhibiting birefringence and a weak crystalline pattern. No birefringence was observed for waxy maize starch gel, while potato starch gels had some birefringence. The particle size distribution of high-amylose maize starch gels analysed through Zetasizer showed the sizes of spherulitic particles fall in the range of 300 nm–900 nm. The scanning electron micrographs of the dried high-amylose maize starch gels showed the presence of round spherulites consisting of several aggregated spherulitic particles. Amylose content and melting of crystallites during heating play an important role during recrystallisation of amylose (spherulite morphologies).     

Characterization of new starches separated from different Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) cultivars

The starches separated from four different Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cultivars were investigated for morphological, thermal, crystal, and physicochemical properties, such as amylose content, swelling power, solubility and water-binding capacity properties. Amylose content of D. oppositastarches from different cultivars ranged from 20.74% to 25.94%. The shape of starch granules separated from different D. opposita Thunb. cultivars varied from round to oval or elliptic. The mean particle diameter of starches ranged from 23.39 to 26.87 μm. The transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). T_o, T_p and T_c varied from 73.6 to 74.8, 78.8 to 81.0, and 83.3 to 87.2 °C, respectively. D. opposita cv. Jinchengerhao starch showed the highest ΔH_gel values (12.48 J/g) while D. opposita cv. Baiyu starch showed the lowest values (8.413 J/g). The crystal type of starches separated from different D. opposita cultivars was a typical C_B-type pattern. The degrees of crystallinity of the four D. opposita cultivars starches were about 50.52%, 32.99%, 33.57% and 36.16%, respectively.     

Structural characteristics and in vitro digestibility of Mango kernel starches (Mangifera indica L.)

Structural characteristics and digestibility of starches isolated from the kernels of two mango cultivars (Chausa and Kuppi) were studied and compared with those of a commercial normal corn starch. Mango kernel starches showed an A-type X-ray diffraction pattern, with relative crystallinities of 35.4% and 38.3%, respectively for Kuppi and Chausa cultivars. The structural characterisation obtained, using high performance size exclusion column chromatography connected to multi-angle laser light scattering and refractive index detectors (HPSEC-MALLS-RI), revealed that the mango kernel starches had lower molecular weight (M_w) and radius of gyration (R_g) of amylopectin and amylose compared to those of corn starch. The M_w of amylopectin for Chausa and Kuppi starches were 179 × 10⁶ and 140 × 10⁶ g/mol, respectively. The amounts of readily digestible starch (RDS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) were lower for mango kernel starch than those of corn starch. Resistant starch (RS) contents in the mango kernel starches (75.6% and 80.0%, respectively) were substantially higher than those of corn starch (27.3%). The glycemic index (GI) values for mango kernel starches were 48.8 and 50.9 (for Chausa and Kuppi, respectively), whereas that of corn starch was 74.8, indicating that the mango kernel starch granules were highly resistant to digestion with significant contents of RS.     

A comparative study of Indian rice starches using different modification model solutions

Starches extracted from rice flour from broken kernels of three rice cultivars (PUSA-44, PR-106 and PR-114) have been selected for modification studies due to their varied amylose content. Model solutions with different types and concentrations of modifying agents were prepared for comparative study of effect of amylose variation among the varieties and also individual and combined effect of modifying agents used. There was an increase in hot paste viscosity at 90 °C in modified starches whereas, cold paste viscosity decreased upon modification. A greater effect was observed with in dual modification of starches. The total set back was significantly lower in modified starches indicating the decreased retro-gradation of starch gels upon modification. The DSC results showed decreases in ΔH, T_o, T_p, and T_c, indicating that hydroxypropylation cross-linking and acetylation affect the structure of starches granules, requiring less heat for gelatinization. Pasting and thermal properties of PUSA-44 were significantly different from those of PR-106 and PR-114, probably due to relative higher amylose contents in the former. As observed in this study, bi-functional modifying agents can reduce the extent of cross-linking. Acetylation modified the morphology of the starch. However, hydroxypropylation cross-linking and dual modification retained the original structure with little modification.     

A study of the retrogradation process in five argentine rice starches

Rate of the retrogradation process of five new argentine genotypes rice starches with different amylose contents and gelatinization temperatures during storage at 4.5 ± 0.5 °C was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).Significant differences were not found among transition temperatures, i.e., T₀ (onset temperature), T_p (peak temperature) and T_c (conclusion temperature), of non-waxy genotypes when studied using DSC. An increased retrogradation enthalpy (ΔH, mJ/mg) with the storage time occurred with all non-waxy samples. The waxy genotype, W4109, did not show a retrogradation peak for the period under study. Genotypes with high total amylose content (TAM) retrograded more than those with lower content. The kinetic parameters “k” and “n” were evaluated using the Avrami model appearing to be related to the water-soluble amylose (SAM) content. Relationship between the retrogradation degree (%R) and the water-insoluble amylose (IAM) content was found. Gelatinization temperature of the starch (T_G) seemed to affect the retrogradation rate.     

Structure and Viscoelastic Properties of Starches Separated from Different Legumes

A comparison between the morphological, structural, thermal and viscoelastic properties of starches separated from pigeon pea, chickpea, field pea, kidney bean and blackgram was made. The shape of the starch granules in the different legumes varied from oval to elliptical or spherical. X-ray diffraction of the legume starches indicated a typical C-pattern (mixture of A- and B-type). Granules of blackgram and pigeon pea starch had a higher degree of crystallinity than those of field pea and kidney bean starches. Apparent amylose content of field pea, kidney bean, chickpea, blackgram and pigeon pea starch was 37.9%, 36.0%, 34.4-35.5%, 32.9-35.6% and 31.8%, respectively. Distribution of isoamylase-branched materials among the starches revealed that the proportions of long and short side chains of amylopectin ranged between 13.6-18.5% and 41.7-46.5%, respectively. Field pea and kidney bean starch had the highest apparent amylose content and the lowest amount of long side chains of amylopectin, respectively. Blackgram and pigeon pea starch possessed higher proportions of both long and short side chains of amylopectin than field pea and chickpea starches. The onset, peak and conclusion temperatures of gelatinization (T_o T_p and T_c, respectively) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. T_o and T_c ranged from 59.3 to 77.3°C, 66.8 to 79.6°C, 55.4 to 67.6°C and 68.3 to 69.3°C, respectively, for chickpea, blackgram, field pea and kidney bean starch. The enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) of field pea, kidney bean, chickpea, blackgram and pigeon pea starches was 3.6, 3.0, 2.6-4.2, 1.6-1.7 and 2.6 J/g, respectively. Pastes of blackgram and pigeon pea starches showed lower storage and loss shear moduli G′ than field pea, kidney bean and chickpea starches. The changes in moduli during 10 h at 10°C revealed retrogradation in the order of: field pea> kidney bean> chickpea> blackgram> pigeon pea starch. In blackgram and pigeon pea starches, the lower proportion of amylose plus intermediate fraction and higher proportion of short and long side chains of amylopectin are considered responsible for the higher crystallinity, gelatinization temperature and enthalpy of gelatinization.     

Studies on the physicochemical,morphological, thermal and crystalline properties of starches separated from different Dioscorea opposita cultivars

The physicochemical, morphological, thermal and crystal properties of the starches separated from four different Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cultivars (Taigu, Ribenbai, Wenxi and Zhongbowen) were studied. Amylose contents of D. opposita Thunb. starches from different cultivars ranged from 21.17% to 25.00%. The shape of starch granules separated from different D. opposita Thunb. cultivars varied from round or oval to elliptic or caky. The surface of the starch granules appeared to be smooth without any fissures. The average particle diameter of starches from different D. opposita Thunb. cultivars ranged from 25.90 to 28.06 μm. The transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). T_o, T_p, T_c and ΔH_gel of D. opposita Thunb. starches ranged from 73.1 to 73.9, 77.6 to 80.4, 82.1 to 85.9 °C and 6.548 to 12.13 J/g, respectively. The crystal type of starches separated from different D. opposita Thunb. cultivars was a typical C-type pattern. The relative degree of crystallinity of the four D. opposita Thunb. cultivars starches were about 38.79%, 39.88%, 41.67% and 49.03%, respectively.     

Relationship between the structure,physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of rice starches with different amylose contents

The in vitro digestibility and molecular and crystalline structures of rice starches (Long-grain, Arborio, Calrose, and Glutinous) differing in amylose content were investigated and the relationship between the structure and in vitro digestibility of starch was studied. Long-grain showed the highest amylose content (27.2%), whereas Glutinous showed the lowest amylose content (4.2%). Long-grain had the highest average amylopectin branch chain length (18.8) and proportion (8.7%) of long branch chains (DP ≥ 37), and the lowest proportion (26.9%) of short branch chains (DP 6–12). Among the non-waxy rice starches (Long-grain, Arborio, and Calrose), Calrose had the lowest average chain length (17.7) and the lowest proportion (7.1%) of long branch chains (DP ≥ 37). The relative crystallinity of rice starch followed the order: Glutinous (33.5%) > Calrose (31.4%) > Arborio (31.0%) > Long-grain (29.9%). Long-grain had the highest gelatinization temperature and the lowest gelatinization temperature range, whereas Glutinous showed the highest gelatinization temperature range and gelatinization enthalpy. Arborio had the highest melting enthalpy for amylose–lipid complex among the tested rice starches. Pasting temperature, setback, and final viscosity increased with increasing amylose content, whereas the peak viscosity and breakdown showed negative correlations with amylose content. The rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content of the tested rice starches followed the order: Glutinous (71.4%) > Calrose (52.2%) > Arborio (48.4%) > Long-grain (39.4%). Contrary to this, the slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) contents showed an opposite trend compared to RDS. Digestibility (RDS, SDS, and RS) of the rice starches was significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.05) with amylose content, proportions of DP 6–12 and DP 13–24, relative crystallinity, intensity ratio (of 1047 cm⁻¹ to 1022 cm⁻¹ from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), swelling factor, amylose leaching, onset temperature of gelatinization, gelatinization temperature range, gelatinization enthalpy, pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, setback, and final viscosity.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of potato starches containing different amounts of phosphorus

The rapid hydrolysis of potato starches differing in phosphorus content, as well as sweet potato, cassava and yam starches, was accomplished by treatment of gelatinised starches with bacterial liquefying α-amylase at 50 °C for 1 h, followed by Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase at 55 °C up to 24 h, and then by glucoamylase at 40 °C for a further 24 h. Among the potato starches, the high-phosphorus starches showed higher starch resistant capacity than the medium-phosphorus starches, as well as other tuber and root starches. The hydrolysis rate of tuber and root starches was not greatly influenced by their amylose content and median granule size. Only glucose was detected in the almost completely hydrolysed tuber and root starch samples, indicating that the concomitant enzymes treatment could hydrolyse both the α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages of the starches examined.     

The effect of sodium chloride on the glass transition of potato and cassava starches at low moisture contents

The effect of NaCl on the glass transition of cassava and potato starches at low water levels (<20% dwb) was investigated. Sodium chloride (up to 6% of the starch dry weight) was mixed thoroughly with cassava and potato starches using a twin-screw extruder. The samples were equilibrated over saturated salt solutions (LiCl, CH₃COOK, MgCl₂, NaBr, CuCl₂ and NaCl) to give a range of moisture contents. The addition of sodium chloride caused a considerable reduction in the DSC measured glass transition temperature for both starches. For example, the T_g of cassava starch without and with 6% NaCl equilibrated at relative humidity of 11% was 166 and 136 °C, respectively. Similar reductions were found for potato starch. Although the starch sorption isotherms are affected by the addition of salt when T_g is plotted against water content as opposed to relative humidity a T_g reduction on salt addition is still observed. The possible reasons for the plasticization of starch by salt are discussed.     

Studies on Desi and Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars. The Levels of Amylase Inhibitors, Levels of Oligosaccharides and In Vitro Starch Digestibility

Amylase inhibitor activity (AIA) of chickpea extracts was investigated using pancreatic and salivary amylases. The extracts showed higher inhibitor activity towards pancreatic amylase than salivary amylase. Mean values indicated slightly higher inhibitory activity in desi than kabuli cultivars, though clear-cut differences were not observed among the cultivars. While in vitro starch digestibility of meal samples indicated no large differences among desi and kabuli types of chickpea, the mean values of digestibility of isolated starches of kabuli types was higher than those of desi types. The mean values of stachyose were higher in desi cultivars. When desi and kabuli types were considered together, stachyose and raffinose contents were not found significantly related to the concentrations of total soluble sugars while stachyose showed a significant correlation with raffinose.     

Relationships Between Selected Properties of Seeds,Flours, and Starches from Different Chickpea Cultivars

ABSTRACT

Five desi (PBG-1, PDG-4, PDG-3, GL-769, and GPF-2) and one kabuli type (L-550) chickpea cultivars were evaluated for their seed mass, volume, hydration capacity, swelling capacity, cooking time, and instrumental textural properties (hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness). Flour was prepared from these chickpea cultivars and various physicochemical and functional properties were determined. The pasting (pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, and final viscosity) and gelatinization (T _o, T _p, T _c, and ΔH _gel) properties of these flours were measured using Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), respectively. Starch was also isolated from chickpea cultivars and evaluated for amylose content, swelling power, solubility, and syneresis values. Physicochemical, cooking, and instrumental textural properties of seeds of different chickpea cultivars were related to physicochemical, gelatinization, and pasting properties of their flours and physicochemical properties of their starches. Selected properties of chickpea seeds were significantly correlated with the properties of their starches and flours. Hardness value of soaked chickpea seeds was positively correlated to cooking time, seed mass, seed volume, hydration, and swelling capacity (p < 0.01). Water solubility index (WSI) of chickpea flours was positively correlated to seed mass, volume, hydration capacity, and hardness value (p < 0.05). Selected instrumental textural parameters of seeds had positive correlation with ΔH _gel of flours (p < 0.01). Peak viscosity of flours showed positive correlation to breakdown, final viscosity, bulk density, and negative correlation to cohesiveness of soaked seeds (p < 0.01). Final viscosity showed negative correlation to bulk density and water absorption index (WAI) (p < 0.01) of flours.     

Effect of amylose content on estimated kinetic parameters for a starch viscosity model

The apparent viscosity profile of starches during gelatinization varies with different amylose content. This study focused on the influence of amylose content on the kinetic parameters of a starch viscosity model for corn starches. The five parameters were: gelatinization rate constant (k_g), gelatinization activation energy (E_g), relative increase in apparent viscosity during gelatinization (A^α), relative decrease in apparent viscosity during shearing (B), and viscous activation energy (E_v). The parameters were estimated at different amylose content using both ordinary least squares nonlinear regression and the sequential method. The mixer viscometry approach was used to measure apparent viscosity. The first part of this paper presents parameter estimation results for waxy corn starch. The model was validated by using the parameters to predict viscosity for the same starch in a different measuring system, i.e., the RVA. The second part of this paper presents the estimated parameters for corn starch blends at different amylose content. The following parameters were significantly affected by amylose content: k_g and E_g both decreased with amylose content by an power-law relationship. Activation energy of gelatinization ranged from 121 to 1169 kJ/mol. The other parameters A^α, B, and E_v were not significantly influenced by amylose content. In summary, the gelatinization parameters k_g and E_g dramatically decreased as amylose increased from 3% to 35% (waxy corn starch blends).     

Starch–cassia gum interactions: A microstructure – Rheology study

We present for the first time the interactions of starch and cassia gum – a novel galactomannan recently approved for use in food processing. Viscoelastic, pasting and microstructural characterization of various starches (waxy; high amylose; normal; cross-linked waxy corn starch; potato starch) containing different levels of the cassia gum was carried out. Significant changes were observed in the morphology of granule remnants formed during gelatinization in the starch pastes prepared with and without the addition of cassia gum. The freeze-dried starch–cassia gum pastes presented a shrunken and tight arrangement of the starch granule remnants, when studied by scanning electron microscopy. A significant reduction in the granule remnant size was also calculated using laser diffraction particle size analysis. The extent of interaction with cassia gum differed significantly among the various starch types. All the unmodified corn starches recorded an increase in peak viscosity at all levels of the cassia gum addition. An increase in the final viscosity of these starches was also observed by the addition of cassia gum, with high amylose and normal corn starch showing the maximum. Similarly, the extent of breakdown and setback viscosity also differed among the different starch types. Ranges of dynamic rheological measurements (temperature, time and frequency sweeps) were performed within the viscoelastic zones. Rheological parameters, such as storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″) and the gelatinization temperature (T_gel), of the corn starches during the heating cycle were observed to increase, when cassia gum was present at lower levels. The starch–gum systems also exhibited higher tan δ values during both the heating and the cooling cycles, indicating the dominance of the viscous modulus. The G′ and G″ of all the corn starch gels containing cassia gum showed higher values throughout the frequency sweep range. However, the increase in G′ and G″ of different starches was not always consistent with the increase in cassia gum levels. The changes in rheological behaviour during storage of the starch gels, aged on the plate of the rheometer and then studied through time sweeps at 5 °C and frequency sweeps at 25 °C, suggested that the starch gels containing cassia gum had less pronounced changes in the rheological parameters than had their control counterparts.     

A comparison of native and oxidized normal and waxy corn starches: Physicochemical, thermal, morphological and pasting properties

The effect of sodium hypochlorite on the physicochemical and functional properties of normal and waxy corn starches was investigated in this study. It was found that both carboxyl and carbonyl contents of oxidized starches from normal corn were higher than those of waxy corn. The introduction of carboxyl and carbonyl groups resulted in lower amylose content and swelling power. Both amylose and amylopectin were oxidized and degraded during oxidation but amylose was more susceptible to oxidation. Studies conducted on paste clarity revealed that the percentage transmittance increased after oxidation. The morphology of the starches was not altered after oxidation. Thermal properties measured by differential scanning calorimeter, showed that oxidation reduced transition temperatures (onset temperature, T_o; peak temperature, T_p; and conclusion temperature, T_c), gelatinization and retrogradation enthalpies of both normal and waxy corn starches. The retrogradation tendency was reduced after oxidation both in normal and waxy corn starches. Oxidation produced waxy starch with significantly higher peak (P_V), trough (T_V), breakdown (B_V), final (F_V), and setback viscosity (S_V) as demonstrated by using a rapid visco analyzer. Oxidation reduced the pasting temperature of both normal and waxy corn starches. Also, the principal component analysis (PCA) study was conducted to find the overall variations among the oxidized starches studied. Together, the first two components represent 88.7 g/100 g of the total variability.     

Impacts of acid-methanol treatment and annealing on the enzymatic resistance of corn starches

Normal corn, Hylon V and Hylon VII starches were acid-methanol-treated at 25 °C for 1–30 days in methanol containing 0.36% HCl, and then annealing at 50 °C for 72 h in excess water. The rapid digestible starch (RDS), slow digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) contents of starch before and after treatments were determined. The molecular structure, thermal properties, double helix content and relative crystallinity of starch were observed for elucidating the impacts of acid-methanol treatment and annealing, as well as the molecular structure, on the enzymatic resistance of starch. Results showed that the weight-average degree of polymerization of acid-methanol-treated corn starches ranged from 884 × 10³ to 404, 778 × 10³ to 299 and 337 × 10³ to 250 anhydrous glucose units for normal corn, Hylon V and Hylon VII starches, respectively. Annealing increased the RS content of starch, and the increment of RS increased with decreasing molecular size of starch. Furthermore, the change in RS content after treatments depended on the content and weight-average chain length of amylose fraction of starch. The RS content of starch after treatments increased from 19.2 to 56.2%, 69.9 to 86.1%, and 73.1 to 89.1% for normal corn, Hylon V and Hylon VII starches, respectively. The gelatinization peak temperature and double helix content of starch increased after acid-methanol treatment or annealing. Results demonstrate that the degradation of starch, causing by acid-methanol treatment, enhances the mobility and realignment of starch chains in molecules during treatments and further increases the enzymatic resistance of starch granules.     

Comparison of sprout quality characteristics of desi and kabuli type chickpea cultivars (Cicer arietinum L.)

Effect of germination time on comparative sprout quality characteristics (proximate composition, ascorbic acid, phytic acid, invitro protein digestibility, protein solubility and sensory properties) was investigated. Sprouting significantly increased (P<0.01) the moisture, crude protein, crude fat and ascorbic acid contents and decreased nitrogen free extract (NFE). Phytic acid was reduced (P<0.01) with sprouting, but more pronouncedly so in the case of Kabuli type (73% reduction) than in desi type (32% reduction). In-vitro protein digestibility (IVDP) and protein solubility improved significantly (P<0.01) with increase in sprouting time. The overall sensory scores increased with the first (24 h) sprouting interval and then decreased. However, the acceptability scores for both chickpea types remained within the acceptable range (>5.0). Although, organoleptically the desi type chickpea sprouts were preferred over Kabuli type, the nutritional improvement due to sprouting was more pronounced in Kabuli chickpeas than their desi counterparts. Due to overall superior sprout quality, the kabuli type was more suitable for sprouting purposes.