Starch gelatinization distribution and peripheral cell disruption in cooking rice grains monitored by microscopy

Starch gelatinization kinetics governs rice cooking behaviour (cooking time and texture). Starch gelatinization however occurs unevenly in the cooking grain. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of starch gelatinization topography in rice kernels cooked in excess water at two temperatures: 75 °C and 95 °C, for times ranging from 5 to 30 min. Gelatinization front position was assessed over time on 40 μm cross sections using four different tracking methods: directly or after iodine staining using a microscope or a stereomicroscope under normal or polarized light. The four methods gave similar results and the obtained kinetics can be used to model starch gelatinization during grain cooking.     

Influence of environmental temperature during grain filling period on granule size distribution of rice starch and its relation to gelatinization properties

High temperature (HT) is the major environmental factor affecting grain starch properties of cooking rice cultivars. However, little information has been available on the effect of environmental temperature on the starch granule size distribution of rice grains. In this paper, five indica rice genotypes, including the wild type (9311) and its four mutants differing in amylose content (AC), were used to investigate the effect of environmental temperature on the starch granule size distribution, as well as its relation to AC and gelatinization properties of rice starch. Two temperature treatments (HT and NT) at filling stage were imposed to rice plants under the controlled temperature chambers. The result showed that HT increased the average diameter of starch granules and enhanced the proportion of large starch granules (LSG, D > 2.6 μm) by number, volume and surface area, respectively. However, influence of HT on GT and starch granule size distribution was relatively independent of their alteration in AC level for different rice genotypes. Therefore, HT-induced increase in the average diameter of starch granules and LSG percentage was strongly responsible for the higher starch gelatinization temperature and inferior cooked palatability of HT-ripening rice grains, which be not inherently associated with their varying AC level.     

Modelling starch phase transitions and water uptake of rice kernels during cooking

To model the cooking processes of rice, starch gelatinization, the level of fusion of the amylose-lipid complex, and equilibrium water uptake have to be known for any given condition. Starch phase transitions were measured by DSC in two milled Korean round rice kernels whose water contents ranged from 0.18 to 4.7 g g⁻¹ db. Two to three partially overlapping transitions were assessed. Starch thermal transitions were modelled using a double step approach. First, a mechanistic double sigmoid model was fitted with DSC data for any water content value. Each parameter of the mechanistic model was then modelled with conservative empirical water content functions. In this way we obtained an explicit form of phase transition levels as a function of both temperature and water content. In parallel, the water uptake kinetics of rice kernels was determined in the temperature range of 50 °C–100 °C. Equilibrium water uptake was found to be linked to starch phase transitions and a model was built to calculate equilibrium water uptake as a function of modelled starch gelatinization and amylose-lipid complex fusion levels.     

Modelling starch phase transitions and water uptake of rice kernels during cooking

To model the cooking processes of rice, starch gelatinization, the level of fusion of the amylose-lipid complex, and equilibrium water uptake have to be known for any given condition. Starch phase transitions were measured by DSC in two milled Korean round rice kernels whose water contents ranged from 0.18 to 4.7 g g⁻¹ db. Two to three partially overlapping transitions were assessed. Starch thermal transitions were modelled using a double step approach. First, a mechanistic double sigmoid model was fitted with DSC data for any water content value. Each parameter of the mechanistic model was then modelled with conservative empirical water content functions. In this way we obtained an explicit form of phase transition levels as a function of both temperature and water content. In parallel, the water uptake kinetics of rice kernels was determined in the temperature range of 50 °C–100 °C. Equilibrium water uptake was found to be linked to starch phase transitions and a model was built to calculate equilibrium water uptake as a function of modelled starch gelatinization and amylose-lipid complex fusion levels.     

In vitro starch digestibility,degree of gelatinization and functional properties of twin screw prepared cereal-legume pasta

The investigation explores the possibility of utilizing legume flour (pigeon pea:10–30%) and brown rice flour (35–45%) for production of pasta using twin screw extruder. RSM was used to analyse the effect of feed moisture (28–36%), barrel temperature (70–110 °C) and legume:brown rice ratio on quality responses (in vitro starch and protein digestibility, degree of starch gelatinization, cooking quality, pasting properties, color and textural properties) of pasta. Extrusion processing significantly enhanced in vitro starch and protein digestibility of prepared pasta. The in vitro starch and protein digestibility of pasta ranged between 15.00 and 26.77 g/100 g and 50.34–84.82 g/100 g respectively. Addition of brown rice flour and pigeon pea flour exhibited dominating positive effect on cooking quality of the pasta. Degree of gelatinization of prepared pasta was found in range of 52.13–90.10 per cent. Color characteristics viz. luminosity, redness and yellowness of pasta enhanced with feed moisture. Pasting properties revealed lower peak and final viscosity at higher processing conditions. Firmness of cooked pasta elevated with an increase in the barrel temperature. Acceptability score of health based pasta on the basis of sensory attributes was 8 as inferred from 9 point hedonic scale.     

Changes in the thermal and structural properties of maize starch during nixtamalization and tortilla-making processes as affected by grain hardness

The objective of this work was to evaluate the changes in the thermal and structural properties of maize starch during nixtamalization and the tortilla-making process and their relationship with grain hardness. Three maize types with varying hardness (hard, intermediate, soft) were processed by three nixtamalization processes (classic, traditional and ecological). Starch from the three maize types showed an A-type pattern and two endotherms corresponding to gelatinization and melting of the Type I amylose-lipid complexes. After cooking and steeping, in intermediate and soft grains the partial gelatinization and the annealing affected the starch properties and promoted the formation of amylose-lipid complexes. These effects were not observe in hard grains. The increase in melting enthalpy and the intensity of the peak 2θ∼20° from nixtamal to tortillas demonstrated the formation of amylose-lipid complexes. A third endotherm above 114 °C in some treatments of nixtamal and tortilla starch demonstrated the transformation of some amylose-lipid complexes in a most ordered structures (Type II complexes). The V-type polymorph structure found in native starch, nixtamal, and tortilla corresponds to a coexistence of Type I and Type II complexes. Formation of amylose-lipid complexes in tortillas had a partial effect on decreasing starch retrogradation (r = −0.47, P < 0.05).     

Visualization of the coated layer at the surface of rice grain cooked with varying amounts of cooking water

A coated layer at the surface of cooked rice grain was visualized using a simple sectioning method, fluorescence microscopy, and digital image processing. Polished rice grain (150 g) was added to 150, 225, or 300 ml of water, which was 1.0×, 1.5×, or 2.0× (w/w) the weight of the grain, respectively. The rice was cooked and then examined. The sections of whole size grain obtained by the simple sectioning method were captured using a stereomicroscopy with transmission and fluorescent modes. The actual grain section including the coated layer was observed in the transmission image. In contrast, the cell morphology in the grain, which showed the exact size of the sectioned grain, was visualized in the fluorescence image. The composite image of both the fluorescent and transmission images captured at the same position can show extra portions of the actual section, which can be distinguished from the morphological tissue area and regarded as the coated layer. The specific layer thicknesses estimated from the composite images shown in this report were approximately 1–7 μm, which increased with increasing amount of cooking water. Differences in the layer thickness at the dorsal and ventral sides were also observed.     

Effects of superfine grinding on the quality characteristics of whole-wheat flour and its raw noodle product

Four particle size distributions of whole-wheat flour (WWF) with mean particle sizes (MZ) of 125-μm, 96-μm, 72-μm, and 43-μm were obtained by superfine grinding. Starch damage and Farinograph water absorption were significantly affected by the reduction of particle size, while dough development time, stability, tolerance index and time to breakdown of WWF were little changed. The peak viscosity, trough, and final viscosity of WWF significantly decreased as particle size reduced. Although finer WWFs produced by superfine grinding caused more discoloration of whole-wheat noodle (WWN) after 24 h storage, they still showed brighter noodle appearance (higher L^∗) than coarser WWFs. A significant increase in the cooking yield of WWN was noticed from the 125-μm WWF group to the 43-μm group, perhaps due to increasing damaged starch, while the 72-μm group exhibited the smallest cooking loss of WWN. Additionally, the hardness, cohesiveness, and resilience values of texture profile analysis (TPA) of cooked WWN significantly increased from the 125-μm group to the 72-μm group, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the 72-μm group revealed the largest coverage of starch granules and degree of protein network connectivity among the WWF groups. The results demonstrated that the superfine grinding technique could improve the quality of WWN by significantly reducing the particle size of WWFs.     

Effect of Stewing in Cooking Step on Textural and Morphological Properties of Cooked Rice

Stewing of rice grains by steam after boiling in excess water can be used for cooking rice perfectly. The effects of this procedure in cooking of three varieties of Iranian rice (Sang Tarom, Domsiyah and Fajr) on textural and morphological properties of cooked rice grains were investigated. The results showed that this step in rice cooking reduced the hardness and increased the adhesiveness of rice grains significantly. By the use of the scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that the outer surface of cooked rice stewed by steam had less porosity and closer pores due to the modification during cooking, and better gelatinization and more expansion of starch granules compared to non-stewed samples. The use of this procedure in rice cooking to provide a fully cooked and gelatinized, softer and stickier final product is recommended.     

Physico-chemical Characteristics as Indicators of Starch Availability from Milled Rice

The hypothesis was tested that certain physico-chemical characteristics might be used as indicators of total starch availability and rate of starch availability of milled rice. Milled unparboiled (uPB) and parboiled (PB) rice samples (n=93) were characterized using standardized methods of physical tests and chemical analyses and anin vitromethod was used for measuring the rate of starch digestion on a subsample of rice (n=26). The rice varieties were dominated by medium long, bold rice grain with high amylose rice and intermediate gelatinization temperature (GT), but a wide range in all characteristics was measured. Small amounts of resistant starch (RS) were measured in the cooked rice, indicating virtually complete starch availability. The RS of PB rice (0·4 g/100 g rice as eaten) was significantly (P<0·004) higher than the RS of uPB rice (0·1 g/100 g) however. The rate of starch digestion was significantly affected by both variety and parboiling. The starch digestion index (SDI) values of the PB samples (mean value 73·7) were significantly (P<0·001) lower than those of the uPB samples (mean value 79·0). The apparent amylose content (AC) was the strongest determinant for SDI in both uPB and PB rice. The widths and shapes of the raw grains and the elongation after cooking were correlated significantly with SDI values for the uPB rice, while the relatively mild parboiling procedure followed in this study eliminated this correlation. The minimum cooking times were correlated significantly with the SDI values in the uPB samples.     

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure on swelling behavior of rice starch

In this study, we aimed to reveal the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the swelling behavior of starch. We investigated the changes in starch granule size, specific surface area and porosity, and swelling factors of HHP- (HHGS) and heat-gelatinized rice starch (HGS) at a similar degree of gelatinization (DG) by using scanning electron microscope, a laser diffraction particle size analyzer, low-temperature N adsorption/desorption and ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Results showed that the average diameter of HHGS increased from 6 μm to 572 μm, and that of HGS increased to 877 μm. The adsorption-desorption isotherms of HHGS and HGS in terms of shape were the type IV profile. Pore structure loosened and enlarged from mesopore to macropore. The specific surface area of HHGS decreased from 1.165 m²/g to 0.138 m²/g, and that of HGS decreased to 0.260 m²/g. Swelling of HHGS was not instantaneous. HHP gelatinization possesses simultaneous compression and swelling.     

Investigation on morphological structure and crystal transition of maize starch gelatinized in pure glycerol

The gelatinization phenomena and crystalline structure of maize starch gelatinized in pure glycerol were investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Starch granules were firstly treated in water system, CLSM and SEM micrographs displayed that they were completely broken and the characteristic birefringence of the starch granules disappeared at 70 °C. As for pure glycerol system, the starch granules swelled but maintained granular shape with the increasing of temperature. The crystalline structure of starch granules was partially destroyed at 130 °C and completely destroyed at 140 °C. The DSC thermogram showed that the gelatinization temperature of starch in glycerol started at 123.7 °C, peaked at 128.4 °C, and concluded at 135.2 °C. The X-ray diffractograms indicated that the crystalline structure of maize starch was partially destroyed at 130 °C and completely destroyed at 140 °C. Thus, glycerol served an alternative solvent to destroy crystalline structure of maize starch, which may be helpful for hydrolysis of starch granules by amylase in food industry.     

Texture determinants of cooked,parboiled rice. II: Physicochemical properties and leaching behaviour of rice

This paper reports the pasting, gelatinisation and leaching behaviour of 11 cultivars of rice, the starch structural properties of which were determined in the preceding paper. The results show that the contents of leached amylose in the cooking water, as determined by both size exclusion–high performance liquid chromatography (SE–HPLC) and iodine colorimetry, were correlated positively with the texture of cooked rices, which possessed total amylose contents in the range 18·4–29·5%. The amount of leached amylose depended on the total amylose content of the rice. A similar correlation between the conventional «setback» value, measured using the Viscoamylograph, and the texture of cooked rice may be a result of the leached starch content. The gelatinisation temperatures of rice starches determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were not correlated with the texture of cooked rice, but were significantly related to the crystallinity of the rice starch. The longest chain population (92–98 DP_n), which had been detected previously in the hard rice samples, was not found in their corresponding leached starches. This observation may well support the suggestion in the preceding paper that the longest amylopectin chains could interact with other components in rice, the resultant complexes being retained in the cooked grain and inhibiting softening.     

Variability in Grain Quality Characters of Upland Rice of Assam,India

The grain quality of 100 upland/ahu rice genotypes from Assam,India was assessed.The characteristics measured were grain length,grain width,cooked grain length,cooked grain width,grain elongation ratio after cooking,grain widening ratio after cooking,alkali spreading value,gel consistency,as well as starch,amylose,amylopectin and total soluble sugar contents.Considerable genetic variability among the 100 rice genotypes was observed for the characteristics under study.Analysis of variance revealed highly sig...     

In vitro starch digestibility and pasting properties of germinated brown rice after hydrothermal treatments

Germinated brown rice (GBR) recently has received renewed attention due to its enhanced nutritional value. Pasting properties and in vitro starch digestibility of GBR were examined before and after hydrothermal treatments. Steeping in water (30 °C, 24 h) raised the moisture content and germination percentage of brown rice. Pasting viscosity was substantially decreased but gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy were decreased only marginally by germination (30 °C, 48 h). However, annealing (50 °C, 24 h) and heat-moisture treatment (100 °C, 1 h at 30% moisture) after germination resulted in increased pasting viscosity and gelatinization temperatures. The hydrothermal treatments, however, induced browning reactions to darken the flour of GBR. The digestibility of starch in brown rice was increased by germination. The contents of rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) in the cooked brown rice were 47.3%, 40.8%, and 11.9%, respectively, but changed to 57.7%, 39.1%, and 3.2%, respectively upon germination. The hydrothermal treatments, however, decreased the digestibility of starch in GBR. The heat-moisture treatment decreased the RDS content in GBR near to that of native brown rice. The digestibility and physical properties of brown rice can be controlled by germination and hydrothermal treatments.     

Effect of thermal processing and storage on digestibility of starch in whole wheat grains

Gelatinisation and retrogradation of starch in wheat flour systems and whole wheat grains were studied using DSC and the impact of these events on starch digestibility was investigated. Gelatinisation of starch was possible in wheat flours with more than 60% moisture content (dwb) and gelatinised samples had higher digestibility values. Retrogradation of starch was studied with partially and fully cooked (boiled at 100 °C for 12 min and 32 min, respectively) wheat grains that were subjected to storage at 22 °C for 48 h. Stored samples had lower digestibility values when compared to the freshly cooked counterparts. The effect of moisture on retrogradation was studied with fully cooked wheat grains that were dried to a range of moisture contents (14.6–35.9%, wwb) and stored at 20 °C for 24 h. Retrogradation enthalpy increased with increasing moisture content; however, digestibility values did not reflect the changes in retrogradation enthalpy. The possibility of estimating the degree of retrogradation in fully cooked grains (32 min cooking) was investigated using a wheat flour-water system. The retrogradation enthalpy of fully cooked grains was slightly higher than the wheat flour-water system (at a moisture content of 49%, wwb) during the course of storage at 22 °C.     

Effects of heat,drought and their combined effects on morphological structure and physicochemical properties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) starch

High temperature (HT) and drought stress (WS) severely affect rice quality by altering the starch structure in rice. The morphological and physicochemical properties of starches isolated from two rice varieties grown under three stress treatment (HT, WS and WS + HT) during the grain filling stage were investigated. The results showed that WS increased amylose content (AC%) and the proportion of large starch granules (LSG) and made the surface of the starch granule smooth and flat. As a result, a lower relative crystallinity, surface order, swelling power, setback viscosity and gelatinization enthalpy were caused. HT decreased AC% and milled rice rate, but increased chalky rice rate, the number of LSG and the large air space and pits on the surface of the starch granules. As a result, a higher relative crystallinity, surface order, swelling power, setback viscosity and gelatinization enthalpy were caused. Similar results were observed under the treatment of WS + HT, indicating that there is a mild antagonistic effect on rice starch when the HT and WS occur simultaneously.     

Rice-based pasta: A comparison between conventional pasta-making and extrusion-cooking

Good quality gluten-free products continue to be in demand among the celiac community and the production of pasta from non-conventional raw materials is a major technological challenge. In this work, the effects of two different pasta-making processes (conventional and extrusion-cooking) were investigated on parboiled brown and milled rice flours. The two processes differentiated for extrusion temperature (conventional extrusion: 50 °C, max; extrusion-cooking: 115 °C), whereas the drying diagram was the same. Starch modifications induced by each pasta-making process were analyzed by using a Micro-ViscoAmylo-graph (MVAG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray Diffraction. The cooking quality was evaluated by weight increase, solid loss into the cooking water, and texture analysis. Pasta obtained from milled rice using the extrusion-cooking process was characterized by the best cooking behavior. In this sample, starch presented the highest peak and final viscosities, the highest gelatinization temperature and lower enthalpy value, and the lowest crystallinity. The cooking quality of pasta obtained from brown rice appeared less affected by the processing conditions. Therefore, the nature and intensity of starch modifications can be modulated by the processing conditions and might explain the different cooking behaviour of rice pasta.     

灌浆期不同时段高温对稻米淀粉理化特性的影响

【目的】研究灌浆期不同时段高温对稻米淀粉组成、结构和理化特性的影响,揭示高温对稻米淀粉理化特性影响的时段效应,阐明高温、结构和功能之间的关系。【方法】以耐热水稻品种黄华占和热敏感的9311近等位基因系为实验材料,利用人工气候箱设置高温[38℃(昼)/30℃(夜)]和对照[28℃(昼)/22℃(夜)],研究灌浆前期(齐穗期后1－15 d)和后期(齐穗期后16 d至成熟)高温对稻米的加工品质、外观品质、淀粉组成、支链淀粉链长分布、粒度分布、胶稠度、黏度特性、糊化特性、结晶特性和颗粒形态的影响。【结果】灌浆期高温使糙米率、精米率、整精米率显著下降,使垩白粒率和垩白度显著升高,导致加工品质和外观品质变差。灌浆期高温使总淀粉含量、直链淀粉含量、短支链淀粉含量、大淀粉粒占比、直/支链淀粉比显著下降,而中等支链淀粉含量、小中淀粉粒占比、糊化温度和糊化焓显著上升,黏度特性显著改变,结晶类型不变但结晶度显著改变,淀粉颗粒表面出现小孔,表面变得凹凸不平,导致淀粉颗粒更加碎片化和蒸煮食味品质变劣。灌浆期不同时段高温对稻米品质的影响不同,灌浆前期高温对稻米淀粉的影响大于灌浆后期,耐热品种受影响小于热敏感品种。灌浆前期高温处理下供试材料具有较高的消减值和较低的崩解值,黏度特性变差;灌浆后期高温处理下供试材料具有较低的消减值和较高的崩解值,黏度特性变好。【结论】灌浆前期高温对淀粉理化特性的影响最大,进而导致稻米的加工品质、外观品质和蒸煮食味品质变劣,灌浆后期高温提升了黏度特性。     

Physicochemical characterization and in-vitro digestibility of extruded rice noodles with different amylose contents based on rheological approaches

The physicochemical properties and in-vitro digestibility of extruded rice noodles with different amylose contents were characterized from a rheological point of view. Thermo-mechanical measurements showed that the rice flour with higher amylose contents exhibited greater stability to dual-mixing and higher degrees of starch gelatinization and retrogradation. In addition, greater elastic properties were clearly observed in the high amylose rice samples. The use of high amylose rice flour produced noodles with a harder texture, consequently contributing to reduced cooking loss. Furthermore, the rheological changes of extruded rice noodles were monitored in real time during the in-vitro starch digestion. The rice noodle digesta with higher amylose contents exhibited greater viscosities throughout the simulated oral-gastric-intestinal digestion steps. The flow behaviors of the rice noodle digesta consisted of the Power-law region and infinite shear plateau that were satisfactorily characterized by the Sisko model (R² > 0.99).