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.     

Variation among physical,chemical and technological properties in three Sicilian cultivars of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Three Sicilian chickpea cultivars (‘Calia’, ‘Etna’ and ‘Principe’) were evaluated for physical, chemical and technological properties. Whereas no substantial differences were ascertained on seeds chemical composition, the cultivars greatly differed in terms of seed size, specific surface area (SSA) and seed coat incidence. These last two properties affected the technological properties of the seeds. In particular, a high SSA (‘Calia’) contributed to a faster softening, whilst a great coat thickness (‘Etna’) delayed both hydration and softening rate. The time required to obtain an acceptable firmness (cooking time) was greatly reduced by presoaking the seeds in salt solution (0.5% NaCl or NHCO₃). ‘Calia’ required the lowest cooking time when soaked in distilled water or in 0.5% NaCl. Presoaking seed in NaHCO₃ allowed halving the cooking time in all cultivars.     

Characterisation of starches separated from sorghum cultivars grown in India

Starches from 15 Indian sorghum cultivars were separated and evaluated for physicochemical, morphological, thermal, retrogradation, pasting and textural properties. The morphological characterisation revealed the presence of irregular-polyhedral as well as spherical shaped granules. A wide variation in amylose content ranging from 11.2% to 28.5% was observed. Thermal, retrogradation, pasting and textural characteristics also showed significant differences amongst all the starch cultivars. Principal component analysis was carried out to extract five principal components that could explain 75% of the total variance. The first two principal components PC1 (T_o, T_p, T_c and ΔH_gel) and PC2 (amylose content, range of gelatinisation, PHI and pasting and textural properties) could explain a cumulative variance of 44%, indicating the importance of amylose, thermal and textural properties on the sorghum starch functionality.     

Chemical composition,functional properties and microstructural characteristics of three kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as affected by different cooking methods

Chickpea is an important food legume and is a major ingredient in many human diets. Chemical composition, physical parameters, functional properties and microstructural characteristics of three kabuli chickpea cultivars and the effects of three cooking methods were investigated. Carbohydrate and protein were two major components in all seeds. Cooking increased fibre, total carbohydrate and total and resistant starch contents, but decreased ash content. Protein and oil levels of the cooked samples either decreased or did not change significantly. Seed weight and density decreased with cooking. Hydration and swelling capacities as well as water absorption and holding capacities of cooked chickpeas were higher than raw samples, with the largest increases in the pressure‐cooked seeds. Seed weights were highly correlated with hydration (r = 0.89) and swelling (r = 0.76) rates. Emulsifying activity, emulsifying stability and foaming capacity of cooked chickpea flours decreased, while foaming stability increased. Chickpea flours had pronounced morphological changes after cooking.     

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.     

Physicochemical,cooking and textural characteristics of some Indian black gram (Phaseolus mungo L) varieties

Physicochemical, cooking and textural properties of black gram varieties were studied and related to each other using Pearson correlation. Different varieties showed significant variation in their physicochemical, cooking and textural properties. Varieties having higher seed weight and seed volume had higher values of cooking time, swelling capacity, hydration capacity and hardness. The relationships between textural parameters of cooked grains from different black gram varieties showed a significant positive correlation of hardness with cohesiveness (r = 0.472), gumminess (r = 0.938) and chewiness (r = 0.859). Swelling index, cohesiveness and gumminess of black gram varieties were observed to be related to their fibre content. Swelling capacity and swelling index correlated well with cooking time, hardness and gumminess. Cooking time had a positive correlation with hardness (p < 0.05) and gumminess (p < 0.05) and a negative correlation with springiness. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chemical analysis and physico-chemical properties of chickpea and lentil cultivars

Some high yielding cultivars of chickpea (Kabuli and desi) (Cicer arietinum) and lentil (Lens esculenta) were used for chemical analysis and physico-chemical properties namely protein, fat, sugars, starch, in vitro digestibility of starch and protein; seed weight, seed volume, seed density, hydration capacity, swelling capacity, water absorption capacity and cooking time. Among chickpea, Gora Hisari (Kabuli) and Haryana Chana (desi) cultivars, and among lentil LH 82-6 cultivar manifested higher contents of protein, fat, sugars, starch and in vitro digestibility of starch and protein. Values of seed volume, seed density, hydration capacity, swelling capacity and water absorption capacity were also found higher for these cultivars which might have contributed towards less cooking time.     

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     

Relationships between various functional,thermal and pasting properties of flours from different Indian black gram (Phaseolus mungo L.) cultivars

Flours from different black gram cultivars were investigated for functional, thermal and pasting properties and related to each other using Pearson correlations and principal component analysis (PCA). Ash, fat, protein content and bulk density of flours ranged between 25.7 and 32.5, 5.2 and 10.2, 220 and 289 g kg^?1 and 519 and 563 kg m^?3, respectively. The water absorption capacity (WAC) and oil absorption capacity (OAC) of flours ranged between 2390 and 3450, and 1130 and 1700 g kg^?1, respectively. Least gelation concentration (LGC) for various black gram flours ranged between 8 and 12%, thereby suggesting their good gelating ability. The results showed that the foams produced by black gram flours were relatively thick with low foaming capacity (36.2–49.2%) and foam stability > 90% after 120 min of storage. The transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) determined using differential scanning calorimeter, ranged between 71.0 and 75.7, 76.1 and 80.4, 81.9 and 86.0 °C, and 3.08 and 3.67 J g^?1, respectively. Pasting temperature, peak‐, breakdown‐, final‐ and setback viscosity were between 68.9 and 81.1 °C, 2988 and 3699, 1200 and 1730, 2839 and 3520, and 1110 and 1474 mPa s, respectively. PCA showed that UG‐218 and UG‐1008 flours were located at the far left of the score plot with a large negative score, while the KU‐3 and UG‐1017 flours had a large positive score in the first principal component (PC1). Overall, these flours differed to the greatest degree in terms of the properties of their flours. Several significant correlations between functional, thermal and pasting properties were revealed both by Pearson correlation and PCA. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Diversity in properties of seed and flour of kidney bean germplasm

The genetic diversity in seeds (physicochemical, hydration, textural and cooking properties) and flours (pasting and gel texture) among kidney bean lines was studied. A wide range of variation was observed for yield and yield-related traits. Seed weight, volume, density, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity, cooking time and amylose content ranged from 10.2 to 51.7 g/100 seeds, 14 to 46 ml/100 seeds, 0.51 to 2.15 g/ml, 0.03 to 0.62 g/seed, 0.16 to 0.97, 1.24 to 1.93 ml/seed, 50 to 120 min, and 0.09% to 5.02%, respectively. Hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, springiness and chewiness of hydrated seeds ranged from 0.81 to 2.03 g, 0.18 to 0.48, 0.20 to 0.97 g, 0.31 to 0.51 and 0.08 to 0.43 g, respectively. Pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity and setback ranged from 79 to 95 °C, 402 to 3235 cP, 9 to 393 cP, 862 to 5311 cP, and 363 to 2488 cP, respectively. Hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, springiness, chewiness and adhesiveness of flour gels ranged from 3.9 to 5.3 g, 0.52 to 0.76, 1.47 to 23.52 g, 0.91 to 0.99, 3.21 to 23.91 and 13.2 to 178.5 g s, respectively.     

A comparison between the properties of seed,starch, flour and protein separated from chemically hardened and normal kidney beans

The physicochemical, functional and thermal properties of starch, flour and protein isolates obtained from chemically hardened kidney beans were evaluated. A rapid chemical hardening procedure (soaking in acetate buffer, pH = 4.0, 37 °C, 6 h) was used to produce hardened kidney beans. Chemical hardening altered physicochemical, cooking, hydrating and textural properties of beans to a significant level (P < 0.05). Soaked and cooked chemically hardened beans had a higher value for different textural parameters than their normal counterparts. Chemical hardening increased cooking time (from 49 to 123 min) of beans and decreased swelling power and solubility of starch. The turbidity value of gelatinized starch suspensions from chemically hardened beans was significantly lower than that from normal beans. Chemical hardening of beans caused significant increase in transition temperatures (T_o, T_p, T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) of both starch and flour. Chemically hardened bean starch showed significantly higher pasting temperature (94.9 °C) as compared to normal bean starch (83.2 °C). Flour and protein isolate from chemically hardened beans showed significantly lower water absorption, oil absorption, foaming capacity and gelling ability than those from normal beans. The onset temperature (T_m), peak denaturation temperature (T_d) and heat of transition or enthalpy (ΔH) of protein isolate from hardened and normal beans did not differ significantly. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

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.     

COOKING CHARACTERISTICS OF FOUR CULTIVARS OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUTS SEEDS AND STARCH ISOLATE

The proximate composition and textural changes during the cooking of four bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranea) seed cultivars were evaluated. Bambara groundnut seeds contained 18–21% protein 6–8% fat, 8–10% moisture and 1.2–2.6% ash. Changes in hardness in relation to cooking time was monitored for 2 h. The cooking time for softening was shorter for the cream and brown colored cultivars than for the red black colored cultivars. The swelling and viscosity properties of starch isolates prepared form the seeds were studied. There were no varietal differences (p≤0.05) in starch viscosity and swelling properties among cultivars. Estimation of tannin content of bambara groundnut seeds showed that tannin contents of the red and black seed cultivars (0.96% and 1.1%, respectively) were significantly higher (p≤0.05) than the tannin contents of cream and brown seed cultivars (0.68% and 0.72%, respectively).     

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).     

Microstructural,cooking and textural characteristics of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) tubers in relation to physicochemical and functional properties of their flours

Potato tubers from six different cultivars were freeze‐dried, ground into flour and analyzed for thermal, pasting and textural characteristics (using differential scanning calorimetry, Rapid Visco analyzer and Instron universal testing machine, respectively) to study the relationship between flour characteristics and cooked potato mealiness. The potatoes with higher sensory mealiness scores resulted in flours having lower transition and pasting temperatures, higher amylose content, setback, peak and final viscosity. The flour gels from the mealier potatoes also exhibited higher values of textural parameters such as hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness and springiness. The microstructure of the tuber parenchyma (studied using scanning electron microscopy), cooking and sensory characteristics of potatoes were found to be related to the pasting and textural characteristics of their flours. Potato cultivars with lower mealiness scores, loosely packed cell arrangement, with comparatively large‐size cells and thinner cell walls showed lower values of textural parameters for both raw and cooked potatoes. This information may prove useful for the selection of potato cultivars with desirable textural and flour‐making properties for specific end‐uses. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Relationships Between Some Physicochemical Properties of Starches from Maize Cultivars Grown in East China

Granule size, amylose content, degree of crystallinity, thermal, pasting, and gel textural properties of starches separated from thirty seven maize cultivars grown in East China were studied with a laser particle size analyzer, spectrophotometer, X‐ray diffractometer, differential scanning calorimeter, Rapid Visco Analyser, and texture analyzer. Various correlations between the physicochemical properties were observed. The correlation coefficient between T_o and T_p, between T_o and T_c, and between T_p and T_c were 0.967, 0.879, and 0.941 (p<0.01), respectively. Amylose content was correlated negatively with T_c (r=‐0.640, p<0.01). Pasting temperature was positively correlated to T_p (r=0.738, p<0.01). Significantly positive correlations were observed between amylose content and final viscosity, between amylose content and setback (r=0.665 and 0.735, respectively, p<0.01) and between peak viscosity and breakdown (r=0.893, p<0.01). Trough viscosity was positively correlated to final viscosity and setback (r=0.851 and 0.704, respectively, p<0.01). Significant correlations existed between final viscosity and setback, and hardness (r=0.972 and 0.615, respectively, p<0.01). There was a significant interrelationship between setback and hardness (r=0.655, p<0.01).     

Effect of processing on water absorption and softening kinetics in chickpea (Cicer arietinumL) seeds

The processing effect on the physical properties of chickpea seeds (kabuli type cv Athenas) is reported. Soaking of chickpea seeds in different solutions (distilled water, 0·5% NaHCO₃ and 0·5% CaCl₂) is characterised by a rapid water absorption followed by a decrease in the hydration rate to saturation point. An improvement in chickpea softening rate and water absorption during cooking, with previous 12 h soaking in 0·5% NaHCO₃, was observed. The presence of Ca²⁺ ions delayed the softening process in chickpea seeds. Physicochemical changes associated to the soaking and cooking process necessary for reducing cooking time are discussed. The texturometer method was estimated as a suitable objective method for the evaluation of the cooking degree in chickpea seeds. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Physicochemical and Gelatinization Properties of Starches Separated from Various Rice Cultivars

Morphological, viscoelastic, hydration, pasting, and thermal properties of starches separated from 10 different rice cultivars were investigated. Upon gelatinization, the G′ values of the rice starch pastes ranged from 37.4 to 2057 Pa at 25 °C, and remarkably, the magnitude depended on the starch varieties. The rheological behavior during gelatinization upon heating brought out differences in onset in G′ and degree of steepness. The cultivar with high amylose content (Goami) showed the lowest critical strain (γ_c), whereas the cultivars with low amylose content (Boseokchal and Shinseonchal) possessed the highest γ_c. The amylose content in rice starches affected their pasting properties; the sample possessing the highest amylose content showed the highest final viscosity and setback value, whereas waxy starch samples displayed low final viscosity and setback value. The onset gelatinization temperatures of the starches from 10 rice cultivars ranged between 57.9 and 64.4 °C. The amylose content was fairly correlated to hydration and pasting properties of rice starches but did not correlate well with viscoelastic and thermal characteristics. The combined analysis of hydration, pasting, viscoelastic, and thermal data of the rice starches is useful in fully understanding their behavior and in addressing the processability for food applications.     

Comparative analysis of techno-functional properties,starch digestion and protein quality of pigmented chickpea flours

The aims of this investigation were to evaluate physicochemical, functional, pasting, and thermal properties, as well as the starch and protein digestibilities of whole flours obtained from ten chickpea cultivars differing in seed coat colour (black, brown, green, red and cream). The coloured chickpeas flours contained higher amounts of bioactive compounds as total phenolics (TPC, 241.25–444.41 μg gallic acid equivalents per g), β-glucans (1.02–2.42 g/100 g), resistant starch (22.68–37.52% of total starch) and higher protein digestibility corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS, 0.61–0.82) compared with the cream-coloured chickpea Blanco Sinaloa (C.BS). The principal component analysis showed several differences among the chemical compositions, starch digestions and seed protein qualities; in the same sense we found a correlation between TPC and starch content with their thermal properties and starch digestion. Subsequently, pigmented chickpea cultivars have potential as functional ingredients for food product development.