Structural properties and gelatinisation characteristics of potato and cassava starches and mutants thereof

The molecular size of amylopectin (AP) and amylose (AM), AP chain length distribution, crystallinity and granular structure (morphology and granule size distribution) of five wild type potato starches (wtps), five AM free potato starches (amfps), four high-AM potato starches (haps), one wild type cassava starch (wtcs) and one AM free cassava starch (amfcs) were investigated and related to their gelatinisation characteristics. Starches with higher levels of short chains [degree of polymerisation (DP) 6–9 and DP 10–14)] had lower gelatinisation onset (T_o), peak (T_p) and conclusion (T_c) temperatures, whereas higher contents of longer chains (DP 18–25 and DP 25–80) led to higher gelatinisation temperatures. Gelatinisation enthalpies (ΔH) increased with degree of crystallinity. The granules of wtps were larger than those of amfps and haps, respectively. No differences in morphology were observed between wtps and amfps granules, but the haps granules had more irregular surfaces and showed multi-lobed granules.     

Effect of debranching and storage condition on crystallinity and functional properties of cassava and potato starches

Debranching starch by pullulanase is considered to improve the RS content of starch which is widely used to produce the starch‐based foods with high‐health benefit impacts. In this study, the cassava and potato starches were debranched by pullulanase, followed by an autoclave treatment and storage at −18°C, 4°C, or 25°C to investigate their crystallinity and functional properties. After debranching, the potato starch contained significantly higher CL (35.4 glucose units) than did the cassava starch (32.4 glucose units). The debranched cassava and potato starches after retrogradation at the storage temperatures had a typical B‐type crystalline structure although the native cassava and potato starches exhibited the different crystalline forms (A‐ and B‐type, respectively). The RS contents of the debranched cassava and potato starches significantly improved with higher RS content of the debranched potato starch than that of the debranched cassava starch at the same storage condition. The storage temperature significantly affected the RS formation of the debranched starches with the highest RS content at storage temperature of −18°C (35 and 48% for the debranched cassava and potato starches, respectively). The debranched starches had significantly lower viscosities and paste clarities but higher solubilities than did the native starches. As a result, the debranched cassava and potato starches can be considered for use not only in functional foods with enhanced health benefits but also in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.     

Fine structure of amylopectin and relation with physicochemical properties of three coloured potato starches

In this study, yellow, red and purple potato starches were selected as the research objects to analyse the fine structure and the relation to the physicochemical properties. Enzymatic hydrolysis and high-performance anion-exchange chromatograph were employed to characterise the structure of clusters and φ, β-limit dextrins. The average degree of polymerisation of clusters from the yellow potato starch was larger (188.57) than in red (91.31) and purple (107.32) potato starch. The molar percentage of fingerprint B chains in yellow, red and purple potato amylopectin were 58.01%, 63.60% and 60.78%, respectively, while major part of short B chains were 15.92%, 17.16% and 16.49%, respectively. The yellow potato amylopectin showed the highest density of branches values indicated that it was more tightly branched. The Pearson correlation coefficients results indicated that the fine structure of amylopectin had significant effects on the physicochemical properties of potato starches, and we can better understanding the differences of the properties among the three potato starches by studying the amylopectin fine structure.     

In vitro amylolytic degradation of natural and graft copolymerised cassava and potato starches

 Various enzymatic hydrolyses to maximise degradation of the starch moiety of grafted starch (starch–g-polyacrylonitrile) were tried. The percentage of α- and β-amylolyses of grafted starch were 55 and 50 compared to 80 and 70 respectively for natural starches. Sequential degradation with α-amylase and glucoamylase of grafted starch showed 70% hydrolysis. The maltooligosaccharide profile by HPLC of the hydrolysates of grafted starch showed oligomers up to a degree of polymerisation (DP) 3, whereas the natural starch hydrolysates showed up to DP 7. The percentage hydrolysis, as well as the enzyme degradation profile, remained similar for both potato and cassava starches. Further treatment of the grafted starch hydrolysates with Bacillus cereus cells showed the presence of very low molecular weight polyacrylonitrile chains grafted onto maltooligosaccharides. The size exclusion chromatography analysis of grafted starch indicated the amylose component of starch that undergoes graft copolymerisation. Received: 30 December 1999     

Physicochemical properties of starches obtained from Polish potato cultivars

Selected physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of starches isolated from new Polish potato varieties were determined. The starches contained 25.7–30.0 g/100 g d.m. of amylose and 59.5–90.2 mg/100 g d.m. of phosphorus. Gelatinization temperatures were 62.6–64.0, 68.9–69.9, and 73.6–77.0°C for T_O, T_P, and T_E, respectively, whilst enthalpy of gelatinization amounted to 11.1–15.3 J/g. The retrogradation degree of starch was from 52.90 to 78.53%. Pasting curves showed significant differences between the starches. Peak viscosity and final viscosity ranges were 2035–4458 and 1931–2985 mPa · s, respectively. Starch pastes exhibited non‐Newtonian, shear thinning, and thixotropic behavior. After cooling they demonstrated diversified viscoelastic properties, however, all of them were classified as weak gels. Significant linear correlations among selected rheological parameters and amylose and phosphorus content were found. Results of principal component analysis demonstrated an ability to differentiate the starches isolated from different potato varieties.     

Effects of mucilage on the thermal and pasting properties of yam, taro, and sweet potato starches

This study investigates the effects of water-soluble mucilages (0, 2.5, and 5 g/100 g; w/w, dry basis) on the thermal and pasting properties of isolated starches from three root and tuber crops. The results show that yam tuber presents the greatest level of mucilage and also possess the largest amylose content of the three isolated starches. The addition of mucilage caused a remarkable increase in the temperature of gelatinization for the three tested starches due to the competition for water during starch gelatinization. Furthermore, adding mucilage increased the phase transition temperature range (Tc-To) of starches but decreased enthalpy (ΔH). However, although the pasting temperature increased with the addition of mucilage into tuber starches, it did not change that of taro starch. The peak viscosity of taro and sweet potato starches decreased significantly as their mucilages were added into each starch suspension system (p < 0.05). However, the addition of mucilage slightly increased the viscosity of yam starch. Furthermore, the addition of mucilage slightly increased the swelling power of yam and taro starches, but did not change that of sweet potato starch.     

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.     

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.     

Physicochemical characterization of sweet potato starches popularly used in Chinese starch industry

Physicochemical properties of starches isolated from 11 sweet potato cultivars popularly used in Chinese starch industry were studied. Moisture, protein, ash, lipid and phosphorus content of the starches varied from 3.86 to 6.52%, 0.28 to 0.75%, 0.10 to 0.47% and 0.00 to 0.02%, respectively. Amylose content varied between 13.33 and 26.83%. The starches differed in their mean granule sizes, particle size distribution, and susceptibility to pancreatin hydrolysis. Swelling power and solubility ranged from 13.46 to 26.13 g/g and 8.56 to 18.77%, respectively. Higher retrogradation tendency was observed in pastes of starches of high amylose content. Gelatinization temperature and enthalpy ranged from 55.54 to 69.11 °C and 6.40 to 11.89 J/g, respectively. Pasting properties including peak viscosity (134–255 BU), breakdown viscosity (91–162 BU), setback viscosity (26–112 BU), peak time (5.97–7.03 min) and pasting temperature (67.20–73.00 °C) varied significantly among the sweet potato starches. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that phosphorus content of the starches had substantial effect on their swelling power (r = 0.70, p ≤ 0.05) showing positive correlations. There was significant positive correlation between swelling power and solubility of the starches (r = 0.64, p ≤ 0.05). Thermal and pasting parameters also showed significant correlations.     

Correlation between the compositional and pasting properties of various potato starches

Multiple linear regression equations were used to develop the correlation between the compositional and rapid visco-analysis (RVA) pasting properties of various potato starches. The amylose of potato starches had a negative correlation with the peak viscosity (PV) and breakdown (BD) and a positive correlation with the setback viscosity (SV) and peak viscosity temperature (PVT). By contrast, phosphorus had a positive correlation with PV, BD, and SV and a negative correlation with PVT. In addition, the median granule size had a positive correlation with PV and BD. By contrast, a negative correlation of the median granule size was observed with SV and PVT. The correlation coefficients of amylose–phosphorus, amylose–granule size, and phosphorus–granule size interactions indicated that amylose had more influence than had phosphorus or had the median granule size on PV and BD. Furthermore, amylose had a greater influence than had the granule size on SV and PVT. Similarly, amylose had more influence than had phosphorus or had the median granule size on PVT. However, the correlation developed in this study was useful for predicting the influence of a specific component and the compositional interaction on the RVA pasting properties.     

Pasting properties of hydroxypropylated starches before or after proteinase treatment

To examine the effect of starch protein on hydroxypropylation, corn (normal and waxy) and potato starches were hydroxypropylated with propylene oxide at two levels (8.3 and 12.3% based on dry basis of starch weight) before or after proteinase (thermolysin) treatment, and then pasting properties of the starches were measured. For normal corn starch, protein appeared to be involved in hydroxypropylation, especially at the higher concentration of reagent (12.3%); the starch hydroxypropylated after proteinase treatment (Enz‐HP) showed less reaction efficiency than that only hydroxypropylated (HP) or proteinase treated starch after hydroxypropylation (HP‐Enz). This suggests a possible reaction between some of the reagent and the starch proteins that exist in the channel and surface of the starch granules. However, not much difference was found with the waxy corn starch, as it contains much lower amounts of amylose and protein than normal corn starch. The potato starch, which has no channels, showed complicated protein effects. For potato starch, a different access of the enzyme and chemical reagents to the granule matrix could be possible.     

RVA study of mixtures of wheat flour and potato starches with different phosphorus contents

A rapid visco analysis (RVA) system was used to study the pasting properties of mixtures of wheat flour and potato starches with high phosphorus (HPS), medium phosphorus (MPS) and low phosphorus (LPS) contents, different granule sizes and different amylose contents. The peak viscosities, trough and breakdown, final viscosities, setback viscosities and peak times of control potato starches were found to be higher than those of wheat flour. The peak viscosities were increased significantly with increase of potato starches in the mixtures. Thus, the peak times decreased with increase of potato starch in the mixtures. The breakdown viscosities increased significantly with increase of potato starches in the mixtures and the values were found to be higher in HPS-wheat, followed by MPS-wheat and LPS-wheat mixtures. The final viscosities of HPS-wheat mixtures were highest, followed by MPS-wheat and LPS-wheat mixtures. The setback viscosities of LPS-wheat were significantly higher than those of MPS-wheat and HPS-wheat mixtures at 30 to 50% potato.     

Pasting and rheologic properties of potato starch and maize starch mixtures

This study characterized the pasting and rheologic behavior of potato/maize starch mixtures of various ratios. Pasting analysis using a Brabender Viscograph indicated that most important pasting parameters did not show a linear change that reflected the ratio of starches. A significant effect on final viscosities and setback was evident. The diameter distribution of starch granules that were heated to 70°C was determined by a laser particle size analyzer. The result suggested that the swelling of starch granules in the mixtures was reduced at the onset of gelatinization. Measurement of dynamic viscoelasticity measurement demonstrated that the mixtures showed slightly higher loss modulus than those seen for the control at small measuring frequencies. The mixture pastes with a high proportion of potato starch exhibited more pseudoplasticity and had a more significant thickening effect than either control paste. Nonadditive behavior was found by mixing potato and maize starch. This suggests that an appropriate blend of starches from diverse botanical origins may provide a simple practical avenue for manipulation.     

Functional and dynamic rheological properties of acetylated starches from two cultivars of cassava

The starches derived from two different cultivars of cassava were modified with acetic anhydride. The increase in swelling power and solubility of the cassava starch (CS) pastes treated with different acetic anhydride concentration could be attributed to easier hydration, resulting from reduction of interaction between starch chains due to the substitution. The transition temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) and enthalpy of gelatinisation (ΔH) of acetylated CS, were determined. The values were lower than those of native starches. Rheological properties of CS pastes (5% w/w) as a function of the degree of substitution were evaluated in dynamic shear force measurements. Magnitude of storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G′′) and complex viscosity (Eta*) of acetylated CS pastes were determined also. Dynamic moduli (G′, G′′ and Eta*) values of acetylated sweet cultivar pastes were generally higher than those of native starch whereas the acetylated samples of the bitter cultivar were lower than those of native starch. The magnitudes of G′ were greater than those of G′′ and Eta* at all frequencies (ω). The fact that all the tan δ (ratio G′′/G′) values (0.7–0.48 and 0.25–0.44) were less than one is an indication that the samples are more elastic than viscous. The acetylated starches could find promising industrial uses in food products like Lemon curd and Mayonnaise and other non‐food applications.     

Some properties of corn starches II: Physicochemical,gelatinization, retrogradation,pasting and gel textural properties

The physicochemical, thermal, pasting and gel textural properties of corn starches from different corn varieties (African Tall, Ageti, Early Composite, Girja, Navjot, Parbhat, Partap, Pb Sathi and Vijay) were studied. Amylose content and swelling power of corn starches ranged from 16.9% to 21.3% and 13.7 to 20.7 g/g, respectively. The enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔH_gel) and percentage of retrogradation (%R) for various corn starches ranged from 11.2 to 12.7 J/g and 37.6% to 56.5%, respectively. The range for peak viscosity among different varieties was between 804 and 1252 cP. The hardness of starch gels ranged from 21.5 to 32.3 g. African Tall and Early Composite showed higher swelling power, peak, trough, breakdown, final and setback viscosity, and lower ΔH_gel and range of gelatinization. Pearson correlations among various properties of starches were observed. Gelatinization onset temperature (T_o) was negatively correlated to peak-, breakdown-, final- and setback viscosity (r = −0.809, −0.774, −0.721 and −0.686, respectively, p < 0.01) and positively correlated to pasting temperature (r = 0.657, p < 0.01). ΔH_gel was observed to be positively correlated with T_o, peak gelatinization temperature and (T_p) and gelatinization conclusion temperature T_c (r = 0.900, 0.902 and 0.828, respectively, p < 0.01) whereas, it was negatively correlated to peak- and breakdown- (r = −0.743 and −0.733, respectively, p < 0.01), final- and setback viscosity (r = −0.623 and −0.611, respectively, p < 0.05). Amylose was positively correlated to hardness (r = 0.511, p < 0.05) and gumminess (r = 0.792, p < 0.01) of starch gels.     

Studies on noodle quality of potato and rice starches and their blends in relation to their physicochemical, pasting and gel textural properties

The physicochemical, pasting, and gel textural properties of potato and rice starches and their blends were studied in relation to their noodle making performance. Amylose content, swelling power and solubility values of potato starch were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than for rice starch. Pasting properties showed higher peak, final and setback viscosity for potato starch as compared to rice starch. Texture profile analysis revealed that potato starch gel had higher hardness, cohesiveness and chewiness as compared to rice starch gel. Potato starch noodles showed higher cooked weight and cooking loss and were scored higher by sensory panellists especially with respect to transparency and slipperiness. On the other hand, rice starch noodles were more firm with lower cooking loss. Addition of potato starch to rice starch significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected the noodle characteristics. Among the starch blends studied, blending of potato and rice starch in the ratio of 1:1 resulted in good quality noodles in terms of their lower cooking time, higher cooked weight, transparency and slipperiness. The results revealed the possibility of blending of potato starch with rice starch in equal proportions to produce noodles of acceptable quality.     

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