Structural Characteristics of Steam-Flaked Sorghum

Sorghum undergoes structural changes during tempering, steam cooking, and flaking at various tempering moisture levels. Physical properties of flakes, digestibility, birefringence, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and environmental SEM (ESEM) were used to evaluate the quality of steam-flaked sorghum from grain containing 11–23% water. As moisture levels increased, the flakes became stronger (57–69% whole flakes) and less dusty (9–4% fines). The diameter of the flakes varied among moisture levels, but preflake and final flake moisture contents increased as the temper level increased. Starch birefringence remained unchanged after tempering, and decreased only slightly after steam cooking; gelatinization occurred primarily during the flaking process. The steaming process prepared the grain for flaking by heating and softening the kernels. Tempering allowed extra water to penetrate inside the kernel endosperm. More starch granules had the opportunity to reach the glass transition temperature (T _g) during flaking. Based on subjective evaluation, birefringence, and SEM, poor quality flakes were opaque, chalky in appearance, and prone to high levels of breakage. The starch granules were more intact and less tightly packed into the flake. Good quality flakes were translucent, thin, and strong, with little chalkiness, and low levels of dust and fines. The dehydrated gelatinized starch continuous phase surrounding the granules reduced the amount of air spaces within the flake, increasing the translucency. ESEM inspection revealed that starch was more extensively gelatinized in the tempered samples. The starch granules were much larger in diameter, and the relative level of gelatinization, evident by the presence of starch granules with collapsed centers, was much higher.     

Steam Flaking Characteristics of Sorghum Hybrids and Lines with Differing Endosperm Characteristics

Commercial and food-type sorghum hybrids with differing kernel and endosperm characteristics were grown under comparable conditions and steam flaked in each of three years. The raw-grain kernel characteristics and proximate analyses were homogenous over the three-year period. The waxy hybrid produced large, translucent, durable flakes that had significantly higher enzyme-susceptible starch values for all years compared to the other varieties. Flakes with lower amylose contents (waxy endosperm) were positively correlated with percent whole flakes (r² = 0.509), flake diameter (r² = 0.846), and enzyme-susceptible starches (r² = 0.564) and negatively correlated with higher flake fragility (r² = -0.647), test weight (r² = -0.626), and flake breakage (r² = -0.560). The heterowaxy flakes had a good appearance and were generally comparable in quality to the nonwaxy commercial and experimental hybrids. Heterowaxy sorghum hybrids with good grain yields can provide improved quality grain and flakes without sacrificing agronomic performance and yields. No difference in flaking performance was detectable among the kernels with different pericarp colors; flakes from the white food-type sorghums had excellent appearance. Nontempered control samples were inferior in quality to all conditioned treatments.     

Relationships Between the Microstructure,Physical Features,and Chemical Composition of Different Maize Accessions from Latin America

Chemical composition (moisture, total lipids, protein, and apparent amylose) and some physical features (1,000 kernel weight, hardness, and anatomical composition) were determined in 71 accessions representing races of maize from Latin America. Their microstructural characteristics (size and compaction of endosperm cell bodies, pericarp thickness, horny‐floury endosperm ratio, and morphology and size of starch granules) were also evaluated using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Compaction was the most important microstructural feature of the maize kernels, representing kernel hardness. Highly compact kernels tended to be hard, with high protein, pericarp, and hard‐endosperm content and high pericarp thickness, but with low moisture, amylose content, and kernel weight and size. The opposite was observed in the least compact kernels. Highly compact kernels tended to have small, polygonal starch granules (<10 μm), while the least compact kernels contained large, spherical granules (>10 μm). These results suggest that microstructure is responsible for the physical features of maize kernels and that microstructure is related to chemical composition.     

Physical and Milling Characteristics of Wheat Kernels After Enzyme and Acid Treatments

The current wheat milling process separates bran from endosperm by passing tempered wheat kernels through successive break rolls and sifters. Using hydrolytic enzymes during tempering degrades bran and aleurone layers and can improve milling efficiency and yield. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical and enzymatic treatments of wheat kernels before milling on physical and milling characteristics of the resulting wheat and flour quality. Hard wheat kernels were soaked in dilute acid or water and dried back to original moisture before being tempered with enzymes in water. Kernel physical and milling characteristics (600 g) were evaluated. Dilute acid soaking did not affect the 1,000‐kernel weight and diameter but softened treated kernels. When treated kernels were pearled, bran removal was mostly from ends; and the reducing sugar content in enzyme‐treated bran was significantly higher than the control. Compared with the control, acid‐soaked enzyme‐tempered kernels showed small but significant improvement in straight flour yield, with virtually no difference in protein content, and flour color. Chemical and enzyme treatment resulted in higher ash in flour. These differences were not seen in milling of larger batches (1,500 g) of kernels.     

Study of Calcium Ion Diffusion in Components of Maize Kernels During Traditional Nixtamalization Process

Our report shows the calcium ion diffusion process through the different parts of maize kernels (pericarp, endosperm, and germ) during the traditional nixtamalization process as a function of steeping time (t) 0–24 hr. The cooking step of the nixtamalization process used 3 kg of maize kernels in 6L of water and 2% calcium hydroxide (w/w). The cooking temperature was 92°C for 40 min. The calcium content of the samples was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. We found that the whole instant corn flour, pericarp, endosperm, and germ, had a nonlinear relationship to steeping time, showing a local maximum at 9 hr. Analysis of the different parts of the nixtamalized kernels showed that in short steeping times (0–5 hr) calcium diffusion took place mainly in the pericarp. Calcium diffusion in the endosperm and germ occurred gradually over longer steeping times. However, the physical state of the kernels (broken kernels) accelerated the diffusion process. Calcium diffusion occurred first in the pericarp, followed by the endosperm and germ. Immediately after cooking (t = 0 hr), we found a 1.148% calcium content in the pericarp, 0.007% in the germ, and 0.028% in the endosperm. After 24 hr of steeping, the calcium contents were 2.714% in the pericarp, 0.776% in the germ, and 0.181% in the endosperm. In another study, the calcium content in the endosperm was measured by first separating the 10% from the outermost, followed by another 10% from the next endosperm tissue, and concluding with the remaining 80%. Calcium ions were present mainly in the outermost layers of the endosperm. The damaged kernels steeped for more than 5 hr showed greater calcium concentrations than the undamaged counterparts.     

玉米应力裂纹的显微分析

观察了３种应力裂纹类型（单裂、双裂、龟裂）玉米的内部显微结构和应力裂纹产生的位置、数量、宽度，分析了应力裂纹在胚乳中扩展的情况以及应力裂纹对胚乳结构产生的影响。裂纹的类型不同，裂纹的形态、数量及大小亦不同。应力裂纹生成在粉质胚乳的中心部位，沿淀粉颗粒的边缘向外扩展。应力裂纹是内部裂纹，只能扩展到种皮附近，接近糊粉层。     

Optimizing a Small‐Scale Corn‐Starch Extraction Method for Use in the Laboratory

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of altering starch extraction procedures designed for use in the laboratory on starch yield, protein content, and thermal properties. Public Corn Belt inbred line Mo17 was used in this study. The altered procedures that were examined included steeping time (24, 48, or 72 hr), numbers of corn kernels extracted (2, 5, or 10 kernels), and isolation method (sedimentation or centrifugation). Starch thermal properties were obtained by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Starch yield and protein content were significantly different among the experimental treatments. In general, more kernels, and sedimentation rather than centrifugation, resulted in greater yields. Also, treatments involving more kernels or sedimentation rather than centrifugation, yielded starch with the lowest protein content. Starch extracted after steeping for 24 hr and purified by the sedimentation method had the lowest gelatinization onset temperature (by DSC) and the widest gelatinization temperature range among the treatments. The energy required to gelatinize starch did not differ among the treatments. The differences among treatments in onset temperature and temperature range were probably caused by annealing of starch that occurs over time, during steeping. Therefore, to obtain the purest starch quality, this study suggests that sedimentation is preferred over centrifugation, and 10 kernels is preferred over 2 or 5. Furthermore, soaking the seeds for less than 24 hr is preferred if minimal annealing is desired.     

Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Pericarp and Endosperm Fibers Recovered from Enzymatic Corn Dry‐Grind Process

A modified dry‐grind corn process has been developed that allows recovery of both pericarp and endosperm fibers as coproducts at the front end of the process before fermentation. The modified process is called enzymatic milling (E‐Mill) dry‐grind process. In a conventional dry‐grind corn process, only the starch component of the corn kernel is converted into ethanol. Additional ethanol can be produced from corn if the fiber component can also be converted into ethanol. In this study, pericarp and endosperm fibers recovered in the E‐Mill dry‐grind process were evaluated as a potential ethanol feedstock. Both fractions were tested for fermentability and potential ethanol yield. Total ethanol yield recovered from corn by fermenting starch, pericarp, and endosperm fibers was also determined. Results show that endosperm fiber produced 20.5% more ethanol than pericarp fiber on a g/100 g of fiber basis. Total ethanol yield obtained by fermenting starch and both fiber fractions was 0.370 L/kg compared with ethanol yield of 0.334 L/kg obtained by fermenting starch alone.     

Effect of Saline Organic Acid Solutions Applied During Wheat Tempering on Flour Functionality

Previously, we showed that tempering with saline organic acid solutions can reduce the aerobic plate count of wheat by as much as 4.3 log CFU/g. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of these tempering solutions on the functional properties of resulting whole grain (WGF) and straight‐grade (SGF) flours. Wheat was tempered to 15.5% moisture by tempering with sterile distilled water (control) or solutions containing NaCl (26% [w/v]) together with organic acid (acetic or lactic 2.5 and 5.0% [v/v]). After milling, fractions were collected and recombined as needed to obtain WGF or SGF. The acid content in WGF was higher than in SGF, indicating limited penetration of the organic acids into the endosperm of the grain. In WGF, the saline organic acid treatments caused a decrease in paste viscosity and bread crumb cell sizes in breads. In SGF, the saline organic acid treatments caused significant changes in paste viscosity and some Mixograph parameters; however, principal components analysis indicated that the treatments did not substantially affect SGF functionality. Thus, WGF was altered by the saline organic acid solutions, whereas SGF functionality was minimally affected by tempering treatments, perhaps because of acids only partially penetrating into the endosperm.     

Effect of Steeping Corn with Lactic Acid on Starch Properties

Pasting and thermal properties of starch from corn steeped in the presence of lactic acid and at different steeping times (8, 16, 24, 32, and 40 hr) were investigated. Corn kernels were steeped at 52°C with 0.2% (w/v) SO₂ and with and without 0.5% (v/v) lactic acid. The isolated starch obtained by corn wet‐milling was characterized by determining starch recoveries, retrogradation, and melting transition properties of the lipid‐amylose complex by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and pasting properties by the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA). Damaged granules and the starch granule size were determined by using microscopic techniques. Starches from corn steeped in the presence of lactic acid (LAS) were compared with control starch (CS) steeped without lactic acid. Greater starch recoveries were obtained for LAS samples than for CS samples, and practically no damaged starch was present in the former preparations. The presence of lactic acid affected the RVA profiles and steeping time affected the viscosities of the starch suspensions. In general, the RVA parameters of LAS suspensions were lower than those of CS suspensions. No great modification of the thermal properties was observed; only a slight decrease in amylopectin retrogradation and in the melting enthalpy of the amylose‐lipid complex was observed. Hydrolysis of the starch during steeping seems the most probable explanation to the starch modifications produced by lactic acid addition.     

Effects of Genotype and Environment on the Starch Properties and End‐Product Quality of Oats

Five Canadian oat genotypes were grown at six environments in Manitoba to assess the effects of genotype, environment, and genotype‐by‐environment interaction on oat starch properties and end‐product quality. Genotypic variation was significant for total starch, amylose content, starch swelling volume (SSV), Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) pasting viscosities, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal properties, and starch gel texture as well as the quality of flakes and cooked oatmeal made by laboratory‐scale methodologies. Environment was the dominant factor contributing to the total variation of starch content, RVA pasting viscosities, SSV, and DSC thermal properties. Most measurements of starch gel and oatmeal texture were not affected by growing environment. Cross‐over analysis revealed that changes in the ranking of genotypes across environments occurred for starch RVA hot paste, breakdown and shear thinning viscosities, work of gel compression, flake hydration capacity, and the proportion of large flakes, indicating that breeding for these traits would require multiple testing sites. Trends were observed between oatmeal texture and several flake and starch gel properties, warranting further study. Results of this study indicated that there is a potential to breed Canadian oat cultivars with improved functional end‐product quality for use in the milling and food manufacturing industries.     

Ethanol Production from Modified and Conventional Dry‐Grind Processes Using Different Corn Types

Different corn types were used to compare ethanol production from the conventional dry‐grind process to wet or dry fractionation processes. High oil, dent corn with high starch extractability, dent corn with low starch extractability and waxy corn were selected. In the conventional process, corn was ground using a hammer mill; water was added to produce slurry which was fermented. In the wet fractionation process, corn was soaked in water; germ and pericarp fiber were removed before fermentation. In the dry fractionation process, corn was tempered, degerminated, and passed through a roller mill. Germ and pericarp fiber were separated from the endosperm. Due to removal of germ and pericarp fiber in the fractionation methods, more corn was used in the wet (10%) and dry (15%) fractionation processes than in the conventional process. Water was added to endosperm and the resulting slurry was fermented. Oil, protein, and residual starch in germ were analyzed. Pericarp fiber was analyzed for residual starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. Analysis of variance and Fisher's least significant difference test were used to compare means of final ethanol concentrations as well as germ and pericarp fiber yields. The wet fractionation process had the highest final ethanol concentrations (15.7% v/v) compared with dry fractionation (15.0% v/v) and conventional process (14.1% v/v). Higher ethanol concentrations were observed in fractionation processes compared to the conventional process due to higher fermentable substrate per batch available as a result of germ and pericarp fiber removal. Germ and pericarp yields were 7.47 and 6.03% for the wet fractionation process and 7.19 and 6.22% for the dry fractionation process, respectively. Germ obtained from the wet fractionation process had higher oil content (34% db) compared with the dry fractionation method (11% db). Residual starch content in the germ fraction was 16% for wet fractionation and 44% for dry fractionation. Residual starch in the pericarp fiber fraction was lower for the wet fractionation process (19.9%) compared with dry fractionation (23.7%).     

Laboratory Measurement of Yield and Composition of Dry‐Milled Corn Fractions Using a Shortened,Single‐Stage Tempering Procedure

The objective was to describe a laboratory‐scale dry‐milling procedure that used single‐stage tempering and determine the effect of hybrid on yields and fraction compositions in milled corn. Samples of 11 commercially available hybrids were processed through a laboratory dry‐milling procedure that used 1 kg samples of corn to produce milling fractions of large grits, small grits, fines, germ, and pericarp. Compositions of milling fractions (protein, neutral detergent fiber, ash, and crude fat) were determined. The procedure used a single‐stage tempering step that increased corn moisture from 15 to 23.5% wb during an 18‐min tempering period. Germ were separated from endosperm particles using a roller mill followed by screening over a sieve with 1.68‐mm openings. Coefficients of variability were small, indicating acceptable repeatability. Overall yield means were 39.2, 25.3, 13.8, 78.2, 14.3, and 6.8 g/100 g (db) for large grits, small grits, fines, total endosperm, germ, and pericarp, respectively. There were effects due to hybrid (P < 0.05) on fraction yields and compositions of milling fractions. Correlations (r) among endosperm fractions (large grits, small grits, and fines) ranged from 0.54 to |–0.92|. Correlations among endosperm fractions and germ and pericarp were <0.68. The developed dry‐milling method estimated milling yields among hybrids with low standard deviations relative to the means and should be a useful tool for research and industry in measuring dry‐milling characteristics.     

Corn Kernel Structural Integrity: Analysis Using Solvent and Heat Treatments

Most corn (Zea mays, L.) processing is accomplished by causing a structural change to the kernel. Associations between corn endosperm structural components were characterized using textural analysis after solvent and heat treating kernels. Intact Asgrow 405W and B73xMo17 kernels were incubated and treated at 20, 40, 55, and 90°C for 1, 24, and 48 hr in static air, in acetone, and in aqueous solutions of water, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bisulfite, lactic acid, lime, lye, ethanol urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). After treatment, kernels were compressed between flat platens. Acetone did not significantly soften endosperm structure. Ethanol reduced kernel fracturability by weakening cell‐to‐cell (wall) bonds, but ethanol did not effectively reduce kernel hardness. Water and aqueous solvents swelled and softened kernels by plasticizing structural components. Bisulfite and SDS softened kernels more than water only soaks because they denatured matrix proteins. Alkaline soaks reduced fracturability and softened the kernel by dissociating both cell‐to‐cell and intracellular (starch‐protein) bonds. Soaking for longer periods and at higher temperatures increased aqueous‐based solvent softening effect. Urea imbibition into the kernel and its softening effects were highly dependent on time and temperature of soak. Endosperm structural integrity is the governed by a combination of cell‐to‐cell bonds and intra‐cellular (starch‐protein) bonds. Reagents that denatured the endosperm matrix proteins and disrupted hydrogen bonds resulted in the greatest alterations to kernel structural integrity. Ultimately a better understanding of kernel structural integrity will lead to the development of improved hybrids and process technologies designed to facilitate desirable structural changes.     

Kernel Microstructure of Latin American Races of Maize and Their Thermal and Rheological Properties

Seventy‐one races of maize representing races from Latin America were analyzed for microstructural features such as the degree of compaction of the endosperm cell bodies, starch granule size and morphology, and hard‐soft endosperm relationship. Flours were analyzed using rapid visco analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Compaction grade was the most important microstructural feature of the maize kernels that related to thermal and rheological properties. Highly compact kernels developed low peak and final viscosities; small, polygonal starch granules; and required more time and higher temperature to gelatinize. The opposite was the case for less compact kernels. This indicates that the characteristic protein matrix of highly compact kernels represents a physical barrier to water migration into the granules, retarding the gelatinization process.     

优质小麦子粒淀粉组成与糊化特性对氮素水平的响应

在大田条件下,选用3个不同类型优质小麦品种: 豫麦47（强筋品种）、山农8355（中筋品种）和豫麦50（弱筋品种）,设置3个氮肥水平: 施N 0、15和30 g/m2,研究了小麦子粒淀粉的粒度分布、直支链淀粉组成、糊化特性及其对氮素水平的响应。结果表明,优质小麦子粒中淀粉粒的粒径分布范围为1～45 μm,其数目分布呈单峰或双峰曲线变化,体积和表面积分布均呈双峰曲线变化,峰谷位于10 μm处; 据此可将淀粉粒分为两种类型: A型大淀粉粒（10～45 μm）和B型小淀粉粒（1～10 μm）。优质小麦子粒淀粉粒组成存在显著的基因型差异。强筋品种豫麦47子粒中B型淀粉粒的比例较高,弱筋品种豫麦50子粒中A型淀粉粒的比例较高,中筋品种山农8355居中。施氮水平对优质小麦子粒中淀粉的粒度分布存在显著影响。在本试验条件下,随氮素水平的提高,强筋品种豫麦47子粒中A型淀粉粒的比例提高,而B型淀粉粒的比例下降; 增施氮肥后弱筋品种豫麦50和中筋品种山农8355子粒中B型淀粉粒的比例增大,而A型淀粉粒的比例降低,且前者变化的幅度较大。适量增施氮肥提高优质小麦子粒中的淀粉含量,氮肥用量进一步增大后,淀粉含量降低; 增施氮肥后优质小麦子粒中直链淀粉含量降低。增施氮肥对优质小麦子粒淀粉的糊化特性存在较大影响,且此影响的趋势因基因型和施氮量而异。其中强筋品种豫麦47表现为低谷粘度、最终粘度、反弹值、糊化温度和峰值时间提高,而高峰粘度和稀懈值降低; 当氮肥用量增大至30 g/m2时,糊化温度和峰值时间降低,而以粘度为单位的参数均提高。弱筋品种豫麦50表现为增施氮肥后,RVA参数呈下降趋势,与之相对应中筋品种山农8355的呈上升趋势。相关性分析表明,B型淀粉粒的数目、体积和表面积比例与高峰粘度和稀懈值存在显著正相关; 与低谷粘度、最终粘度和反弹值存在显著负相关。子粒中直链淀粉含量、支链淀粉含量和总淀粉含量与高峰粘度和稀懈值呈显著负相关,与低谷粘度、最终粘度、反弹值和峰值时间呈一定程度正相关; 直链淀粉相对含量与RVA特征参数之间的相关趋势与子粒中直链淀粉含量的趋势一致,但均未达显著水平。由此可以认为,氮肥通过调控小麦子粒中淀粉的直、支链组成和粒度分布而影响其糊化特性。     

A Radioisotopic Study of the Entry of Calcium Ion into the Maize Kernel During Nixtamalization

The entry of calcium ions from the nixtamalization solution into maize kernels over time was followed in model experiments using radiolabeled calcium ions, with autoradiographic evaluation of the kernels after different cooking and steeping times. Calcium ions immediately entered the pericarp and were rapidly fixed at the outer boundary of the endosperm, especially at the external surface of the germ. Entry of calcium into the endosperm occurred gradually after long steeping times, except in the case of broken kernels, for which massive invasion by calcium was observed. After extended steeping times, a moderate amount of calcium‐45 was evident in the germ. Specific perforation of the outer layers of the grains provided a defined route of facilitated entry of calcium into the endosperm. No fundamental difference with respect to penetrability by calcium ion was seen in a comparison between flint‐type grains and grains containing only floury endosperm.     

Pasting Characteristics of Maize Starch Heat‐Treated with Different Water‐Ethanol Mixtures

Pasting characteristics of maize starch heat‐treated with six different water‐to‐ethanol ratios (%wt base 0:100, 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50) were investigated; treated starches were called EW 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, respectively. Endotherms in DSC analysis shifted to a higher temperature as the water content in water‐ethanol mixture increased. The removed amount of fatty acids was much higher in treatments for EW 10, 20, and 30. The RVA peak viscosity of EW 10 and 20 were highest among the treated starches and setbacks were more than twice that of untreated starch. The characteristic change in the RVA viscogram corresponded to the amount of leached amylose from the granule. EW 30 displays similar properties as conventional heat‐moisture‐treated starch, but maintained a higher viscosity of ≈300 RVU throughout the heating process. In treatment with water‐ethanol mixtures, heat‐moisture treatment and defatting effects generated new types of modified starches. EW 40 and 50 had no clear pasting peak on RVA, and showed a viscosity at low temperature similar to granular cold water gelling.     

Increasing Slowly Digestible Starch Content of Normal and Waxy Maize Starches and Properties of Starch Products

Changes in the digestibility and the properties of the starch isolated from normal and waxy maize kernels after heat‐moisture treatment (HMT) followed by different temperature cycling (TC) or isothermal holding (IH) conditions were investigated. Moist maize kernels were heated at 80°C for 2 hr. The HMT maize kernels were subjected to various conditions designed to accelerate retrogradation of the starch within endosperm cells. Two methods were used to accelerate crystallization: TC with a low temperature of –24°C for 1 hr and a high temperature of 20, 30, or 50°C for 2, 4, or 24 hr for 1, 2, or 4 cycles, and IH at 4, 20, 30, or 50°C for 24 hr. The starch granules were then isolated from the treated kernels. The starch isolated from HMT normal maize kernels treated by TC using –24°C for 1 hr and 30°C for 2 hr for 2 cycles gave the greatest SDS content (24%) and starch yield (54%). The starch isolated from HMT waxy maize kernels treated by TC using –24°C for 1 hr and 30°C for 24 hr for 1 cycle had an SDS content of 19% and starch yield of 43%. The results suggest that TC after HMT changes the internal structure of maize starch granules in a way that results in the formation of SDS (and RS). They also suggest that thermal treatment of maize kernels is more effective in producing SDS than is the same treatment of isolated starch. All starch samples isolated from treated normal maize kernels exhibited lower peak viscosities, breakdown, and final viscosities and higher pasting temperatures than did the control (untreated normal maize starch). Although peak viscosities and breakdown of the starch isolated from treated waxy maize kernels were similar to those of the control (untreated waxy maize starch), their pasting temperatures were higher. The starch isolated from treated normal and waxy maize kernels with the highest SDS contents (described above) were further examined by DSC, X‐ray diffraction, and polarized light microscopy. Onset and peak temperatures of gelatinization of both samples were higher than those of the controls. Both retained the typical A‐type diffraction pattern of the parent starches. The relative crystallinity of the starch from the treated normal maize kernels was higher than that of the control, while the relative crystallinity of the starch from the treated waxy maize kernels was not significantly different from that of the control. Both treated starches exhibited birefringence, but the granule sizes of both starches, when placed in water, were slightly larger than those of the controls.     

Functionality Behavior of Raw and Extruded Corn Starch Mixtures

Relationships between the structural properties of raw and extruded corn starches and their functionalities were investigated using mixtures of these starch types. Extruded starch had higher water absorption and water solubility indices, and produced lower RVA viscosity profiles when compared with raw starch. It also had no differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) endotherm. Gel cohesiveness and adhesiveness of both starch types were similar, while extruded starch gels were softer. Extruded starch produced lower Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) viscosity profiles than raw starch due to starch degradation during extrusion. The raw and extruded starch components had negative interaction coefficients, thus RVA viscosity parameters were lowered as the fraction of extruded starch in the mixture increased. Starch degradation in the extruded starch was a likely significant factor associated with low viscosity profiles. Mixtures of raw and extruded starches could be commercially prepared to obtain finished starch products with a range of functional attributes.