Structural and Physical Properties of Starches Isolated from Six Varieties of Millet Grown in China

This study investigated the structural and physical properties of starches extracted from six varieties of millet mainly grown in China. The amylose content of millet starches ranged from 17.6 to 28.4 g/100 g (dry weight basis, db), and a variety of waxy proso millet starch (0.38 g/100 g, db) was identified. These starches exhibited a majority of large polygonal granules with several indentations, few small spherical granules, and A-type crystallinity. Proso millet starch showed prominent paste clarity and freeze-thaw stability, whereas finger millet starch exhibited the highest solubility. Moreover, barnyard millet starch had the lowest sediment volume. The gelatinization enthalpy of proso millet starch was the highest (5.16 J/g). For non-waxy millet starch, the ratio of retrogradation (R%) was positively correlated with amylose content. Among all starches, the storage modulus (G′) was higher than the loss modulus (G″) during heating and cooling. The G′ and G″ of proso millet starch and barnyard millet starch pastes were significantly lower than other starches during cooling. The pasting properties of six millet starches significantly differed, had positive correlation with amylose content, and were affected by NaCl, sucrose, and pH values.