Chemical and Physical Properties of Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) Starch

Chemical and physical properties of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa var. ‘Hayward’) starch were studied. Kiwifruit starch granules were compound, irregular or dome‐shaped with diameters predominantly 4–5 µm or 7–9 µm. Kiwifruit starch exhibited B‐type X‐ray diffraction pattern, an apparent amylose content of 43.1% and absolute amylose content of 18.8%. Kiwifruit amylopectins, relative to other starches, had low weight‐average molecular weight (7.4×10⁷), and gyration radius (200 nm). Average amylopectin branch chain‐length was long (DP 28.6). Onset and peak gelatinization temperatures were 68.9°C and 73.0°C, respectively, and gelatinization enthalpy was high (18.5 J/g). Amylose‐lipid thermal transition was observed. Starch retrograded for 7 d at 4°C had a very high peak melting temperature (60.7°C). Peak (250 RVU), final (238 RVU) and setback (94 RVU) viscosity of 8% kiwifruit starch paste was high relative to other starches and pasting temperature (69.7°C) was marginally higher than onset gelatinization temperature. High paste viscosities and low pasting temperature could give kiwifruit starch some advantages over many cereal starches.     

Production and characterization of digestion‐resistant starch by the reaction of Neisseria polysaccharea amylosucrase

Recombinant amylosucrase (200 U/mL) from Neisseria polysaccharea was used to produce digestion‐resistant starch (RS) using 1–3% (w/v) corn starches and 0.1–0.5 M sucrose incubated at 35°C for 24 h. Characterization of the obtained enzyme‐modified starches was investigated. Results show that the yields of the enzyme‐modified starches were inversely proportional to the original amylose contents of corn starches. After enzymatic reaction, insoluble RS contents increased by 22.3 and 20.7% from 6.9% of waxy and 7.7% of normal corn starches, respectively, using 3.0% starch as acceptor and 0.3 M sucrose as donor, while amylomaize VII showed the lowest increase (8.5%) in RS content. The crystalline polymorph of these enzyme‐modified starches resulted in the B‐type immediately after enzymatic reaction. The enzyme‐modified starches displayed higher melting peak temperatures (85.6–100.6°C) compared to their native starch counterparts (70.1–78.4°C). After enzymatic reaction, pasting temperature increased in waxy (71.9 → 77.6°C) and normal corn starches (75.3 → 80.6°C), and the peak viscosity of waxy corn starches increased from 264 to 349 RVU, whereas that of normal corn starches decreased from 235 to 66 RVU.     

Physicochemical Properties of Pin Oak (Quercus palustris Muenchh.) Acorn Starch

Physicochemical properties of acorn (Quercus palustris) starch were studied. Acorn starch granules were spherical or ovoid, with diameters ranging from 3–17 μm. Acorn starch exhibited A‐type X‐ray diffraction pattern, an apparent amylose content of 43.4% and absolute amylose content of 31.4%. Relative to other A‐type starches, acorn amylopectin had a comparable weight‐average molar mass (3.9×10⁸ g/mol), gyration radius (288 nm) and density (16.3 g mol⁻¹nm⁻³). Average amylopectin branch chain‐length corresponded to DP 25.5. Onset gelatinization temperature was 65.0°C and peak gelatinization temperature was considerably higher (73.7°C). The enthalpy change of gelatinization was very high compared to non‐mutant starches (20.8 J/g). An amylose‐lipid thermal transition was not observed. Starch retrograded for 7 d at 4°C had very high peak melting temperature (54.2°C) relative to other A‐type starches. Final (260 RVU) and setback (138 RVU) viscosity of an 8% acorn starch paste was high relative to other starches and pasting temperature was 71.5°C.     

Physicochemical properties of new starches isolated from Dioscorea opposita Thunb. bulbils

Morphological, crystal, and physicochemical properties, such as AM content, swelling power, solubility, and pasting properties of starches isolated from three different Shanyaodou (the bulbils of Dioscorea opposita Thunb., named Huaishanyao, Xichangmaoshanyao, and Maoshanyao, respectively) were investigated. The yield of starches was in the range 12.5–20.8% (dry starch/fresh whole bulbils). The AM content of Shanyaodou starches ranged from 33.3 to 36.7%. The shape of the three bulbils starch granules varied from round to oval or elliptic. The mean particle diameter of starch granules varied from 20.17 to 26.34 µm. Shanyaodou starches exhibited a C‐type XRD pattern and the degree of crystallinity was in the range 31.0–34.9%. The pasting peak viscosity, trough viscosity, and final viscosity of Shanyaodou starches ranged from 291.1 to 414.7, 210.8 to 227.0, and 350.0 to 359.2 rapid visco units (RVU), respectively, and the pasting temperature was in the range 83.6–87.3°C. The results showed that some of the Shanyaodou starches could be used in foods production as a thickening agent. The simple method of extraction and the high yield of starch from Shanyaodou might be attractive for production of Shanyaodou starch.     

Isolation,composition, morphological and pasting properties of starches from rice cultivars grown in Nigeria

The isolation, composition, morphology and pasting properties of rice starches from different rice cultivars (N2R, Nerica II rice; IGR, Igbemo rice; ILR, Ilaje rice; and EAR, Efon Alaye rice) were studied. The starches were isolated from their flours by using a modified deproteination method in 0.1% NaOH. The highest starch yield of 65% was obtained from EAR with a residual protein of 0.41% and lowest starch yield of 45.70% from IGR with a residual protein of 0.42%. The AAM concentration of rice starches ranged from 21.88 to 26.04%. The sizes of the starch granules obtained from SEM were between 3 and 8 µm, some of the granules were individual (single) while others were fused (compound granules). The starch granules were small, polygonal and irregular in shape. The pasting parameters were evaluated using rapid visco analyser (RVA). Significant differences were observed in individual pasting parameters such as peak viscosity (PV), breakdown viscosity (BV), final viscosity (FV) and setback viscosity (SV). Cooked ILR starch had the highest PV (279.69 RVU; rapid viscosity units) and BV (52.50 RVU) when compared to the other starches. In contrast, N2R showed the highest FV (329.92 RVU) and SV (102.50 RVU), the latter due to the high concentration of AAM. The results revealed that cultivar has an effect on composition and pasting properties of rice starch.     

Textural and pasting properties of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) as affected by storage temperature

Fresh tubers from five potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars were stored at different temperatures (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 °C) and 80–90% relative humidity for 18 weeks after harvest to examine the effect of storage temperature on their textural and pasting properties. Texture profile analysis was performed on raw and cooked potatoes using an Instron universal testing machine to measure textural parameters such as fracturability, hardness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness and springiness. Both raw and cooked potato tubers showed a considerable reduction in all textural parameters upon storage, irrespective of the storage temperature employed. Raw potatoes showed a decrease in fracturability and hardness with increasing storage temperature, whereas their cooked counterparts showed the opposite trend. The extent of change in the textural properties of both raw and cooked potatoes also varied among the different cultivars. Fresh and stored tubers from all cultivars were freeze‐dried, ground into flours and analysed for amylose content and pasting properties. The amylose content of flours prepared from potatoes stored at 4 and 8 °C was observed to be considerably lower than that of flours prepared from potatoes stored at 16 and 20 °C. Pasting characteristics such as peak viscosity, setback and final viscosity increased with increasing storage temperature, while the reverse was observed for pasting temperature, when studied using a rapid visco analyser. Breakdown in viscosity of the flour pastes from all cultivars was considerably reduced during storage, irrespective of the storage temperature employed. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physico‐chemical Characterization of Grain Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Starch

Starch isolated from five grain tef (Eragrostis tef) varieties was characterized and compared with commercial maize starch. Grain tef starch is formed of compound granules, comprising many polygonal shape (2—6 μm in diameter) simple granules. The crude composition is similar to that of normal native cereal starches. The amylose content ranges from 24.9—31.7%. Gelatinisation temperature range was 68.0—74.0—80.0 °C, typical of tropical cereal starches, and resembling the temperature range of rice starch. The mean intrinsic peak viscosity (269 RVU), breakdown viscosity (79 RVU), cold paste viscosity (292 RVU) and setback viscosity (101 RVU) determined were considerably lower than that of maize starch. Tef starch has higher water absorption index (WAI) (mean 108%) and lower water solubility index (WSI) (mean 0.34%) than maize starch.     

Physicochemical, pasting and thermal properties of tuber starches as modified by guar gum and locust bean gum

This study was carried out in order to compare the functional characteristics of isolated starch from five tuber crops, yam, taro, sweet potato, yam bean and potato, as well as effect of guar gum (GG) and locust bean gum (LBG) on pasting and thermal properties of tuber starches. The results showed that total amylose content of five tested starches ranged from 17.85% to 30.36%. The results of pasting behaviour showed that potato starches exhibited the highest peak viscosity and yam starch presented a stable curve with little breakdown viscosity. Addition of GG and LBG resulted in a significant increase in peak, final viscosity, breakdown and setback viscosity for all tuber starches ( P  < 0.05), but a slight decrease in pasting temperature. The gelatinisation enthalpy (Δ H ) for starches with GG and LBG was slightly lower than those of the starches alone in yam and sweet potato, but not in taro and yam bean.     

Starch characterization of different blue maize varieties

Maize shows a significant genetic diversity, giving origin to a great number of varieties, hybrids, and genotypes. Recently, the pigmented corn varieties have received increased interest because of their anthocyanin contents. Although starch is the major component of the pigmented corn, only a few studies have been conducted on this constituent. The aim of this work was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of starch isolated from six blue maize varieties grown in Mexico. The apparent amylose content ranged between 23.3 and 33.9%. The blue maize starches had an A‐type X‐ray diffraction pattern with similar crystallinity levels. Different gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy values were recorded, exhibiting different retrogradation tendencies (between 36.9 and 60.1%). The pasting parameters showed that the pasting temperature varied between 74.7 and 84.1°C, the maximum peak viscosity between 83.2 and 111.2 RVU units, and the setback viscosity between 26 and 38 RVU units. Structural differences were observed in the degree of branching, molar mass, and gyration radius. In view of their different physicochemical and structural characteristics, each of the blue maize starch varieties studied could have their own specific applications.     

Pasting,Color, and Granular Properties of Starches From Local and Improved Cassava Varieties in High Rainfall Region of Nigeria

This study investigated the pasting, color, and granule properties of starches produced from 39 different cassava varieties (36 varieties resistant to cassava mosaic disease and three checks, TMS 30572, 4(2) 1425, and 82/00058) in two planting seasons at the experimental farm of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. Varieties screened showed significant seasonal differences (p?<?0.05) in all the properties over two harvesting seasons. The peak viscosity during heating ranged from 241.13 RVU to 485.21 RVU in year 1 and from 232.46RVU to 407.63RVU in year 2. Pasting time of the different starches ranged from 3.20–3.70 min in year 1 and from 3.6–4.2 min in year 2. Pasting temperature of the different starches ranged from 63.93–65.35 °C and from 73.15–77.15 °C in the years 1 and 2, respectively. Starch color intensity ranged from 85.05–94.49% in year 1 and from 90.27–92.96% in year 2. The structure of starches from cassava varieties was round in shape with granule size ranging from 12.50–22.50 μm in two years with varieties 97/0211 and 98/0510 as the smallest and variety 96/1632 as the largest. This study, therefore, showed that there were significant genotypic and seasonal variations in the pasting, color, and morphological properties of native starches from cassava.     

Physicochemical,crystallinity, pasting and thermal properties of heat‐moisture‐treated pinhão starch

The effect of heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) on the properties of pinhão starches under different moisture and heat conditions was investigated. The starches were adjusted to 15, 20 and 25% moisture levels and heated to 100, 110 and 120°C for 1 h. The X‐ray diffractograms, swelling power, solubility, gel hardness, pasting properties and thermal properties of the native and HMT pinhão starches were evaluated. Compared to native starch, there was an increase in the X‐ray intensity and gel hardness of HMT starches, with the exception of the 25% moisture‐treated and 120°C heat‐treated starch. HMT reduced the swelling power and solubility of the pinhão starches when compared to native starch. There was an increase in the pasting temperature, final viscosity and setback and a decrease in the peak viscosity and breakdown of HMT pinhão starches compared to native starch. HMT increases the gelatinisation temperature of native pinhão starch and reduces gelatinisation enthalpy.     

Milling and flour pasting properties of waxy endosperm mutant lines of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L)

Two waxy endosperm mutant lines, K107Wx1 and K107Wx2, derived from a bread wheat cultivar, Kanto 107, had a lower flour yield in test milling and a lower peak temperature in flour pasting measurement than their parent. Starch content in the kernel of waxy mutants was low, while fat and (1→3),(1→4)‐β‐D‐glucan content was high compared with cv Kanto 107, but protein content was similar for all of them. Waxy mutants had less α‐amylase activity than their non‐waxy parent, and had lower peak viscosity of flour paste in the pasting medium of water. A pasting test in silver nitrate solution increased peak viscosity in both waxy and non‐waxy flours. The viscosity of waxy flour paste rapidly increased above 60°C, while that of non‐waxy flour paste increased gradually at 60–80°C. The difference in pasting behaviour was attributed to the presence of amylose in starch granules. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physico‐chemical characteristics of non‐irradiated and γ‐irradiated yams cultivars (Dioscorea rotundata,Dioscorea alata) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam)

Physico‐chemical (pasting) properties of non‐irradiated (fresh) and γ‐irradiated yam cultivars and sweet potato were determined using Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA). Generally, pasting characteristics of the commodities decreased significantly with increased γ‐irradiation dose. Non‐irradiated sweet potato showed significantly higher peak (45.79), trough (35.25), breakdown (10.54), final (75.21) and setback (39.96) viscosities (in RVU) than γ‐irradiated samples. Also, peak time (6.97 min) and pasting temperature (50.18 RVU) significantly reduced with increased γ‐irradiation dose of tubers. The pasting properties of non‐irradiated and γ‐irradiated sweet potato showed similar but clearer trend compared with yam flours. Also, non‐irradiated and γ‐irradiated Dioscorea rotundata and Dioscorea alata showed significantly higher values of each of the pasting characteristics than values noted in sweet potato. Aside from the TDr 03/00196, peak time did not vary significantly with γ‐irradiation dose.     

Properties of Korean Amaranth Starch Compared to Waxy Millet and Waxy Sorghum Starches

Characteristics of waxy type starches isolated from amaranth, waxy millet and waxy sorghum harvested in Korea were evaluated. Shapes of all starch granules were polygonal or slightly round and the surfaces of waxy millet and waxy sorghum starch granules showed visible pores. Amylose contents of the three starches were between 3.2–6.0% and amaranth starch showed the highest water binding capacity (WBC) (130.7%). The swelling power and solubility of amaranth starch studied at 65.0–95.0°C increased about 13.7‐ and 14.0‐fold, respectively, with increase in temperature. Swelling power of waxy sorghum starch was the highest (72.6 at 95°C) among the starches studied, while amaranth starch had a constant swelling power and its rate of solubility increasely only slowly at temperatures higher than 75°C. From RVA data, initial pasting temperatures of amaranth, waxy sorghum and waxy millet starches were 75.7, 73.3 and 75.2°C, respectively. Peak viscosity, breakdown, and setback from trough of amaranth starch were 68.3, 16.7 and 7.5 RVU, respectively, which were the lowest values among the starches investigated. Using DSC, onset temperature of gelatinization of amaranth starch was 1.5–4.0°C higher than those of waxy sorghum and millet starches, corresponding to the RVA result. The enthalpies of gelatinization of the starches studied in our laboratory were in the range of 8.5–12.7 J/g with decreasing order of waxy sorghum > amaranth > waxy millet starch.     

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.     

Influence of the Heating Rate on the Pasting Properties of Various Flours

Viscoamylographic tests were carried out on six commercial flour samples, three wheat flours (WF), two semolinas (S) and one rice flour (RF), using the Brabender Micro Visco‐Amylo‐Graph (MVA). The slurries were subjected to a definite temperature profile (30°C‐95°C, 95°C×30 min, 95°C‐50°C, 50°C×30 min), stirring at 250 min⁻¹ and using a 300 cm·g_f cartridge and recording the viscosity (in Brabender Units, BU) as a function of temperature and time. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different heating rates (1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0°C/min) on the pasting properties of the various flours. The peak viscosity of WFs and Ss increased when high heating rates were applied, while the RF showed similar pasting properties independently of the heating rate. These behaviours were mainly ascribed to the different molecular organisation of the starch granules, responsible of different swelling and gelatinising extents, and also to a different kinetic of alpha‐amylase inactivation according to the heating rate applied. The key role of the alpha‐amylase activity in controlling the pasting viscosity of the different samples was demonstrated by the viscoamylographic test performed in the presence of silver nitrate as enzyme inhibitor.     

Physicochemical,Thermal, Morphological and Pasting Properties of Starches from some Indian Black Gram (Phaseolus mungo L.) Cultivars

The starches separated from thirteen different black gram cultivars were investigated for physicochemical, thermal, morphological and pasting properties. Amylose content, swelling power, solubility and water binding capacity of starches ranged between 30.2–34.6%, 16.0–22.3 g/g, 14.8–17.3% and 73.5–84.5%, respectively. The diameter of starch granules, measured using a laser‐light scattering particle‐size analyzer, varied from 12.8 to 14.3 μm in all black gram starches. The shape of starch granules varied from oval to elliptical. The transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) determined using differential scanning calorimetry, ranged between 66.1–71.3, 71.0–76.2, 75.9–80.4°C and 6.7–9.4 J/g, respectively. Pasting properties of starches measured using the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) also differed significantly. Pasting temperature, peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final viscosity and setback were between 75.8–80.3°C, 422–514, 180–311, 134–212, 400–439 and 102–151 Rapid Visco Units (RVU), respectively. Turbidity values of gelatinized starch pastes increased during refrigerated storage. The relationships between different properties were also determined using Pearson correlation coefficients. Amylose content showed a positive correlation with swelling power, turbidity and granule diameter. Swelling power showed a negative correlation with solubility and setback. T_o, T_p and T_c showed positive correlation with turbidity, pasting temperature and were negatively correlated to peak and breakdown viscosity.     

Granular Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Starches from Amaranth Grain

The granular structure and physicochemical properties of starches isolated from grain amaranth cultivar K112 (Amaranthus cruentus L.) were studied in this study. Detailed physical and chemical analyses were performed by determining the granular morphology, crystallinity, particle size, thermal characteristics, blue value, enzyme susceptibility, and pasting properties. Results showed polygon-shaped A. cruentus L. K112 starch granules. The average diameter was 1.38 μm, in which half of the diameter was <2.91 μm. An A-type X-ray diffraction pattern was revealed with intense peaks of 15.2°, 17.5°, and 23.2°. The peak viscosity was 181 BU and the breakdown value was 2 BU. Amaranth starch obtained the highest pasting temperature (70.7°C) and enzymatic digestibility (absorbance value = 0.41 ± 0.013) compared with corn, cassava, and sweet potato starches.     

Physicochemical properties,resistant starch content and enzymatic digestibility of unripe banana,edible canna,taro flours and their rice noodle products

Unripe banana, edible canna and taro flours, which have been reported to contain significant amounts of fibre, were investigated for their physicochemical properties, resistant starch (RS) content and in vitro starch digestibility, and compared with commercial high‐fibre‐modified starches from corn and tapioca. Differential scanning calorimetry showed a single endothermic peak located around 70–83 °C for the samples except the modified starches, which exhibited no transition enthalpy. The samples showed different pasting behaviours in the Rapid Visco‐Analyser (RVA) ranging from full to restricted swelling. The RS content varied from 1–26 g per 100 g dry sample, and the estimated glycaemic indices (GIs) of the samples were from 67% to 99%. Generally, samples with high RS were low in GI values. The starches produced acceptable rice noodles but with reduced rate of starch digestion and GI. The effects of the unripe banana, edible canna and taro flours on starch digestibility were either comparable or better than the commercial modified starches. These flours can substitute commercial modified starches to lower GIs of noodles and identical foods.     

Physicochemical properties of high amylose rice starches purified from Korean cultivars

The physicochemical and pasting properties of high amylose rice starches isolated using alkaline steeping method from different Korean rice cultivars, Goamy2 and Goamy, and from imported Thai rice were examined. The protein and lipid contents of the Goamy2 starch were higher than those of the other two starches. The amylose and total dietary fiber contents were ranged from 31.4 to 36.8% and from 6.3 to 8.6%, respectively. Total dietary fiber was positively correlated to amylose content. Water binding capacity was higher in the Goamy2 starch (172.2%) than in the Goamy and Thai rice starches (112.7–115.6%). The swelling power of the Goamy2 starch showed lower values, but its value at 95°C was similar to others because of its rapid increment at 85°C. The granular size of Goamy2 starch was widely distributed compared to those of others. The Goamy2 starch showed a high initial pasting temperature (92.0°C) and low breakdown and setback viscosities. The Goamy and Thai rice starch granules were polygonal‐shaped with A‐type crystals, whereas the Goamy2 starch granules were round‐shaped with B‐type crystals. Goamy and Goamy2 starches showed a single endotherm at 60.8 and 76.0°C for peak temperature and 10.0 and 11.5 J/g for gelatinization enthalpies, respectively. The Thai rice starch presented an endotherm with a shoulder peak at 68.3°C (75.3°C for the main peak) and a gelatinization enthalpy of 12.4 J/g.