Heat Stress at Different Grain Filling Stages Affects Fresh Waxy Maize Grain Yield and Quality

The effects of heat stress (mean day/night temperatures were 29/18 and 35/18°C for control and heat stress treatments, respectively) at 1–10 or 11–20 days after pollination (DAP) on grain yield and quality of two waxy maize varieties, Suyunuo5 and Yunuo7, were studied. The decrease in grain number and fresh grain yield was more severe when heat stress was introduced early. The responses of grain weight and its components to heat stress were dependent on the variety and heat stress stage. Heat stress increased the starch granule size and volume percentage of diameter larger than 17 μm in both varieties. Crystallinity, iodine binding capacity, and pasting and gelatinization temperatures were increased in both varieties under heat stress at 11–20 DAP; however, the response to early‐stage heat stress was variety dependent. Peak viscosity and retrogradation percentage were increased by heat stress at either stage. These results suggest that heat stress decreases fresh grain yield and accelerates grain filling rate; it increases starch content, starch granule size, crystallinity, and iodine binding capacity as well as decreases the protein content in Yunuo7, thus making the grain less tender and prone to retrogradation. Warm conditions should shorten the time to harvest in fresh waxy maize production.     

Effects of Heat Stress at Different Grain‐Filling Phases on the Grain Yield and Quality of Waxy Maize

Effects of heat stress (mean day/night temperatures of 35.2/16.1 and 27.4/15.6°C for heat stress and control, respectively) during different grain‐filling phases (1–10, 11–20, 21–30, 31–40, and 1–40 days after pollination [DAP]) on the grain yield and quality of waxy maize were investigated using two varieties. Heat stress decreased the number and weight of grains, thereby reducing grain yield. The effects of heat stress at an early grain development stage (before 20 DAP) were severe. Compared with the control, starch deposition was not affected by heat stress in Suyunuo5, and it was only decreased by heat stress at 1–10 DAP in Yunuo7. Protein content responses to heat stress were variety and stage dependent. Heat stress increased the iodine‐binding capacities of both varieties. Peak and breakdown viscosities were decreased by heat stress, and the effects gradually decreased with postponement of high temperature. Heat stress increased gelatinization temperature and retrogradation percentage for both varieties, and the response was stage dependent. Heat stress during the whole grain‐filling period increased the pasting and gelatinization temperatures but decreased gelatinization enthalpy. Changes in protein and starch contents as well as the proportion of long chains in amylopectin affected the pasting and thermal properties.     

Effects of Waterlogging Around Flowering Stage on the Grain Yield and Eating Properties of Fresh Waxy Maize

The effects of waterlogging around flowering stage on the grain yield and eating quality of fresh waxy maize were studied using Suyunuo5 and Yunuo7 as materials in 2014 and 2015. Waterlogging around flowering stage decreased the fresh weight, volume, and number of grains, which led to the loss of fresh grain yield. Waterlogging before pollination reduced grain moisture content and increased grain dry weight. Waterlogging increased starch contents and decreased protein contents, especially after pollination; decreased albumin and glutenin contents; and did not affect globulin content. Zein content was decreased and increased, respectively, by waterlogging before and after pollination. The responses of starch granule size and iodine‐binding capacity to waterlogging were dependent on planting year, variety, and waterlogging stage. Pasting and gelatinization temperatures were only slightly affected by waterlogging. Waterlogging increased peak viscosity at both stages in Suyunuo5, but this parameter decreased and increased, respectively, before and after pollination in Yunuo7. Waterlogging did not affect gelatinization enthalpy but increased retrogradation enthalpy and percentage. In conclusion, waterlogging around flowering stage suppressed grain yield and shortened grain filling duration. Eating quality (viscosity and retrogradation) was also altered by waterlogging because grain proximate content and starch granule structure were changed.     

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.     

结实期弱光胁迫对甜玉米籽粒灌浆和叶片衰老的影响

为探索甜玉米生长发育对花后弱光的响应,以京科甜183和京科甜533为材料,结实期(人工授粉至鲜食期)利用遮阳网进行50%遮光处理,研究结实期弱光胁迫对甜玉米籽粒灌浆和叶片衰老的影响。结果表明,春播和夏播处理下,弱光胁迫均使甜玉米穗粒数减少,鲜籽粒重降低,进而导致产量损失;随灌浆进程推进,鲜籽粒体积、鲜重、干重和叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量逐渐升高,籽粒含水率、叶片可溶性蛋白含量和SPAD值逐渐下降。结实期弱光胁迫显著降低鲜籽粒体积、鲜重和干重,花后27 d时籽粒含水率较低,叶片可溶性蛋白质含量和SPAD值降低,MDA含量增加,过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性提高。总体上,弱光胁迫能加快甜玉米叶片衰老,进而限制籽粒灌浆,导致籽粒重量下降。本研究结果为甜玉米结实期叶片衰老和籽粒灌浆在低光照条件下的调控提供了理论参考。     

Physicochemical Properties of Rice Starch Modified by Hydrothermal Treatments

Rice starches of long grain and waxy cultivars were annealed (ANN) in excess water at 50°C for 4 hr. They were also modified under heat-moisture treatment (HMT) conditions at 110°C with various moisture contents (20, 30, and 40%) for 8 hr. The modified products were analyzed by rapid-viscosity analysis (RVA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Generally, these hydrothermal treatments altered the pasting and gelling properties of rice starch, resulting in lower viscosity peak heights, lower setbacks, and greater swelling consistency. The modified starch showed increased gelatinization temperatures and narrower gelatinization temperature ranges on ANN or broader ones on HMT. The effects were more pronounced for HMT than for ANN. Also, the typical A-type XRD pattern for rice starch remained unchanged after ANN or HMT at low moisture contents, and the amorphous content increased after HMT at 40% moisture content.     

Physicochemical Properties of Normal and Waxy Job's Tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) Starch

Physicochemical properties of starches from eight coix (Coix lachrymajobi L.) accessions were investigated. There was considerable variation in most measured traits, generally corresponding to the separation into waxy and normal amylose types. The amylose contents of five normal coix ranged from 15.9 to 25.8%, and those of three waxy coix were 0.7–1.1%. Swelling power of waxy coix starches varied between 28.6 and 41.0 g/g, generally higher than waxy maize. Normal coix starches had significantly higher gelatinization peak temperature (T_p) than the normal maize, 71.9–75.5°C. The T_p of waxy coix starches was 71.1–71.4°C, similar to waxy maize. Rapid Visco-Analyser (RVA) pasting profiles of normal coix showed little variation and closely matched the normal maize starch profile. Pasting profiles of waxy coix showed more variation and had lower peak viscosities than waxy maize starch. Waxy coix starches formed very weak gels, while the gel hardness of normal coix starches was 11.4–31.1 g. Amylose content was the main factor controlling differences in starch properties of the coix starches.     

播种期对南方秋播糯玉米主要品质成分的影响

以鲜食型糯玉米品种香白糯为材料,于2004年秋在广州地区进行了分期播种试验,研究播种期对鲜食糯玉米籽粒灌浆期间主要品质成分及其变化规律的影响.结果表明,播种期没有明显改变糯玉米灌浆期间籽粒中主要品质成分的变化趋势,但对主要品质成分的含量影响很大.早播糯玉米灌浆期籽粒中可溶性蛋白、粗蛋白、脂肪、淀粉的平均含量分别比晚播的高0.87mg/g和2.68、1.0、4.96个百分点;其累积量分别比晚播的高0.74mg/粒、9.67mg/粒、2.3mg/粒和25.52mg/粒.早播糯玉米籽粒的含水量每天以1.37%的速率减少,其脱水速率高于晚播玉米籽粒的0.44个百分点.因此,南方（广州地区）秋播鲜食糯玉米的播种时间以适当早播（9月中上旬以前）、尽量推迟采收为宜.     

缓释肥施用时期对春播鲜食糯玉米产量和籽粒品质的影响

为探明缓释肥施用时期对鲜食糯玉米产量和籽粒品质的影响,本研究以苏玉糯11号为材料,在等量施肥条件下,以常规施肥方式(N15CK,基施复合肥+六叶期追施尿素)和不施肥为对照,研究缓释肥于播种期(SN15-0)、三叶期(SN15-3)和六叶期(SN15-6)一次性施用对鲜食糯玉米鲜果穗和鲜籽粒产量,籽粒淀粉和蛋白质含量、碘结合力、热力学特性和糊化特性的影响。结果表明,缓释肥处理的鲜果穗产量和鲜籽粒产量显著高于常规肥处理,且SN15-6和SN15-3的鲜果穗产量分别比SN15-0提高14.0%和7.4%,鲜籽粒产量提高14.6%和2.0%。SN15-6的籽粒中淀粉、可溶性糖和蛋白质含量均显著高于其他处理。缓释肥延后施用使淀粉粒径变小,SN15-6与N15CK的淀粉碘结合力和最大吸收波长显著高于其他处理。与不施肥相比,施肥提高了籽粒淀粉的糊化温度和胶凝温度(起始温度、峰值温度和终值温度),降低了回生热焓值和回生值。其中SN15-3的峰值黏度、谷值黏度、崩解值和终值黏度最高,而SN15-6的回复值、回生热焓值和回生值最低。综上,缓释肥适当延后施用有利于提高鲜食糯玉米产量,增加籽粒中蛋白质、淀粉、可溶性糖含量,降低淀粉平均粒径;另外,三叶期施用可显著提高籽粒糊化黏度,六叶期施用使籽粒回生值显著降低。本研究结果可为春播鲜食糯玉米绿色高产优质轻简栽培提供理论依据与技术支撑。     

Retrogradation of Maize Starch After Thermal Treatment Within and Above the Gelatinization Temperature Range

Studies of starch retrogradation have not considered the initial thermal treatment. In this article, we explore the effect of heating to temperatures within and above the gelatinization range on maize starch retrogradation. In the first experiment, 30% suspensions of waxy (wx) starch were initially heated to final temperatures ranging from 54 to 72°C and held for 20 min. On reheating in the differential scanning calorimeter immediately after cooling, the residual gelatinization endotherm peak temperature increased, the endotherm narrowed, and enthalpy decreased. Samples stored for seven days at 4°C showed additional amylopectin retrogradation endotherms. Retrogradation increased dramatically as initial holding temperature increased from 60 to 72°C. In a second experiment, wx starch was initially heated to final temperatures from 54 to 180°C and rapidly cooled, followed by immediate reheating or storage at 4°C. Maximum amylopectin retrogradation enthalpy after storage was observed for initial heating to 82°C. Above 82°C, retrogradation enthalpy decreased as initial heating temperature increased. A similar effect for ae wx starch was observed, except that retrogradation occurred more rapidly than for wx starch. These experiments show that heating to various temperatures above the range of gelatinization may profoundly affect amylopectin retrogradation, perhaps due to varying extents of residual molecular order in starch materials that are commonly presumed to be fully gelatinized. This article shows that studies of starch retrogradation should take into account the thermal history of the samples even for temperatures above the gelatinization temperature range.     

Evaluation of Waxy Grain Sorghum for Ethanol Production

The objective of this research was to investigate the fermentation performance of waxy grain sorghum for ethanol production. Twenty‐five waxy grain sorghum varieties were evaluated with a laboratory dry‐grind procedure. Total starch and amylose contents were measured following colorimetric procedures. Total starch and amylose contents ranged from 65.4 to 76.3% and from 5.5 to 7.3%, respectively. Fermentation efficiencies were in the range of 86.0–92.2%, corresponding to ethanol yields of 2.61–3.03 gallons/bushel. The advantages of using waxy sorghums for ethanol production include easier gelatinization and low viscosity during liquefaction, higher starch and protein digestibility, higher free amino nitrogen (FAN) content, and shorter fermentation times. The results showed a strong linear relationship between FAN content and fermentation rate. Fermentation rate increased as FAN content increased, especially during the first 30 hr of fermentation (R² = 0.90). Total starch content in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was less than 1% for all waxy varieties.     

鲜食糯玉米籽粒理化特性的基因型差异

以糯玉米国家区域试验14个品种为材料,研究其鲜食期籽粒理化特性的基因型差异。结果表明,鲜食糯玉米籽粒理化特性存在显著的基因型差异,淀粉和蛋白质含量变幅分别在48.7%~72.2%和7.4%~8.9%之间,但其含量高低对籽粒理化特性无显著影响。籽粒淀粉最大吸收波长变幅在531.6~559.4nm之间,但总体上变异较小,且均表现出典型的糯性特征。碘结合力和微量元素含量均存在显著的基因型差异。差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和快速黏度分析仪(RVA)研究表明,供试品种中淮科糯3号和禾盛糯1512黏度特征值较优,适合作鲜穗食用;禾盛糯1512和沈糯062回生值较低,在速冻玉米上具有独特优势。相关分析表明,碘结合力与回生值显著负相关,与回复值显著正相关。微量元素中,Cu、Fe、Ca、Na元素含量与热力学特征值和糊化特征值无显著相关性,Mn、Zn、S和P元素含量与峰值黏度和崩解值显著负相关,K与崩解值显著正相关,S与糊化温度显著正相关。     

Morphological Changes of Granules of Different Starches by Surface Gelatinization with Calcium Chloride

Native starch granules of 11 selected cultivars (potato, waxy potato, sweet potato, normal maize, high‐amylose maize, waxy maize, wheat, normal barley, high‐amylose barley, waxy barley, and rice) were treated with a calcium chloride solution (4M) for surface gelatinization. The surface‐gelatinized starch granules were investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In general, those starches with larger granule sizes required longer treatment time to complete the gelatinization. The salt solution treatment of starch was monitored by light microscopy and stopped when the outer layer of the granule was gelatinized. The surface gelatinized starch granules were studied using scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of the gelatinization pattern from calcium chloride treatments, the starches could be divided into three groups: 1) starches with evenly gelatinized granule surface, such as normal potato, waxy potato, sweet potato, maize, and high‐amylose maize; 2) starches with salt gelatinization concentrated on specific sites of the granule (i.e., equatorial groove), such as wheat, barley, and high‐amylose barley; and 3) starches that, after surface gelatinization, can no longer be separated to individual granules for SEM studies, such as waxy barley, waxy maize, and normal rice. The morphology of the surface gelatinized starch resembled that of enzyme‐hydrolyzed starch granules.     

Effects of Heat Stress and Cultivar on the Functional Properties of Starch in Chinese Wheat

Heat stress during the grain‐filling stage is a major limiting factor for improving Chinese wheat production, and its effect on functional properties of flours and starches in 10 leading cultivars from the Yellow and Huai Valleys grown under normal and heat‐stress environments was investigated. Heat stress during the grain‐filling stage decreased total starch content but increased protein and lipid contents of wheat grains. Amylose content of wheat starch was little altered under a heat‐stress environment. Heat stress did not significantly change swelling power and starch solubility of wheat starches but significantly decreased swelling power of wheat flours. Pasting viscosities of wheat starches and flours were affected differentially by heat stress. Heat stress had a significant effect on gelatinization and retrogradation properties of starches. The in vitro enzymatic digestibility of wheat starches was affected slightly by heat stress. Analysis of variance indicated that heat stress had a significant effect on some functional properties of starch and flour, although the largest source of variability in these properties was cultivar.     

Composition and Quality of Wheat Grown Under Different Shoot and Root Temperatures During Maturation

Diminished quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from high temperature during maturation is usually attributed to direct effects of the stress on the shoots or grain. However, the upper soil temperature approaches the air temperature, and roots are highly sensitive and interact profoundly with other plant parts. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of differential shoot and root temperatures on quality of hard red spring wheat (cv. Len). Plants were grown in hydroponic containers at 15/10°C day/night until 10 days after anthesis, when shoot/root treatments of 15/15°C, 15/30°C, 30/15°C, and 30/30°C were imposed until the grain ripened. Both high shoot and high root temperature affected quality of the grain. Kernel size and weight were diminished more by high root than by high shoot temperature, but flour yield was decreased significantly only by the 30/30°C treatment. The percentage of starch in B granules was reduced by high shoot temperature, and the diameter of A granules was decreased by all heat treatments. Amylose concentration was increased by high temperatures of both shoot and root, resulting in decreased pasting characteristics. Flour protein increased after all heat treatments, but high shoot temperature decreased the polymer‐to‐monomer ratio and unextractable polymeric protein and it affected dough mixing. We concluded that stress on roots directly affects properties of the grain that are important for milling and baking.     

Influence of Milk,Corn Starch,and Baking Conditions on the Starch Digestibility,Gelatinization, and Fracture Stress of Biscuits

Dough for nontraditional semisweet biscuits—prepared with wheat flour or replacing part of the wheat flour with corn starch, with or without skim milk—was baked at two oven temperatures, 120 or 170°C, until reaching moisture content and water activity lower than 6% and 0.5, respectively. Assays of fracture stress, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, and starch digestibility were performed. Results showed that biscuits containing milk had the highest fracture stress, and biscuits baked at low temperature were harder than biscuits baked at high temperature. The degree of starch gelatinization during baking was higher when dough was baked at 170°C, compared with dough baked at 120°C. The decrease in gelatinization coincides with the decrease in the height and surface of peaks at 15 and 23° in the X‐ray diffraction patterns. Milk and corn starch did not affect the starch digestibility of biscuits, but biscuits baked at 170°C presented lower fracture stress and higher starch digestibility than biscuits baked at 120°C.     

Retrogradation of du wx and su2 wx Maize Starches After Different Gelatinization Heat Treatments

Retrogradation of du wx and su2 wx starches after different gelatinization heat treatments was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Suspensions of 30% (w/w) starch were initially heated to final temperatures of 55–180°C. Gelatinized starch was cooled and stored at 4°C. Starch retrogradation in the storage period was influenced by initial heat treatments. Retrogradation of du wx starch was rapid: when initially heated to 80–105°C, retrogradation enthalpy was ≈10 J/g after one day at 4°C. The retrogradation enthalpy was ≈15 J/g after 22 days of storage, and reached a maximum of 16.2 J/g after 40 days of storage. For du wx starch, application of the Avrami equation to increases in retrogradation enthalpy suggests retrogradation kinetics vary with initial heating temperature. Furthermore, starch retrogradation may not fit simple Avrami theory for initial heating ≤140°C. Retrogradation of su2 wx starch was slow. After 30 days of storage at 4°C, the maximum retrogradation enthalpy for all initial heating temperatures tested was 7.0 J/g, for the initial heating to 80°C. This work indicates that gelatinization heat treatment in these starches is an important factor in amylopectin retrogradation, and that the effect of initial heat treatment varies according to the genotype.     

Modeling Starch Gelatinization Kinetics of Milled Rice Flour

Milled long‐grain rice samples were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the kinetics of starch gelatinization. The experiments were conducted with milled rice flour with a 10.6% degree of milling. DSC thermograms were obtained from 35 to 110°C using heating rates between 1°C/min and 15°C/min. The rate constants were evaluated, and two activation energies were found for different temperature ranges. At <70.1°C gelatinization was not completed. It was assumed that at <70.1°C gelatinization would only affect the amorphous regions. During the subsequent phase the crystalline regions destabilized by the amorphous component begin to gelatinize. For moisture content of 70%, wet basis, and a heating rate of 12°C/min, the enthalpy of gelatinization reaches a constant value of 7.3 J/g.     

Influence of Amylose Content on Properties of Wheat Starch and Breadmaking Quality of Starch and Gluten Blends

The effects of amylose content on thermal properties of starches, dough rheology, and bread staling were investigated using starch of waxy and regular wheat genotypes. As the amylose content of starch blends decreased from 24 to 0%, the gelatinization enthalpy increased from 10.5 to 15.3 J/g and retrogradation enthalpy after 96 hr of storage at 4°C decreased from 2.2 to 0 J/g. Mixograph water absorption of starch and gluten blends increased as the amylose content decreased. Generally, lower rheofermentometer dough height, higher gas production, and a lower gas retention coefficient were observed in starch and gluten blends with 12 or 18% amylose content compared with the regular starch and gluten blend. Bread baked from starch and gluten blends exhibited a more porous crumb structure with increased loaf volume as amylose content in the starch decreased. Bread from starch and gluten blends with amylose content of 19.2–21.6% exhibited similar crumb structure to that of bread with regular wheat starch which contained 24% amylose. Crumb moisture content was similar at 5 hr after baking but higher in bread with waxy starch than in bread without waxy starch after seven days of storage at 4°C. Bread with 10% waxy wheat starch exhibited lower crumb hardness values compared with bread without waxy wheat starch. Higher retrogradation enthalpy values were observed in breads containing waxy wheat starch (4.56 J/g at 18% amylose and 5.43 J/g at 12% amylose) compared with breads containing regular wheat starch (3.82 J/g at 24% amylose).     

Chemical and Physicochemical Properties of Maize Starch After Industrial Nixtamalization

Processing conditions similar to traditional nixtamalization are now used by the industry in the production of dry maize flours (DMF). The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of industrial nixtamalization on maize starch. Thus, dent maize grains were sampled from storage silos and the starch isolated (S). From the same batch of maize, DMF was obtained and the starch isolated (S‐DMF). The amylose content in the starches was quite similar (21.5–23.4%) and characteristic of a dent maize. However, nixtamalization increased the calcium content in S‐DMF. The starches investigated exhibited the typical A‐type diffraction pattern after 40 days of storage at 11–84.1% rh. However, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that annealing of maize starch occurred during storage at 30°C. On the other hand, industrial nixtamalization has both a melting and annealing effect on maize starch. Thus, the operative glass transition temperature (T_g), and the DSC parameters that define starch gelatinization (T_p and ΔH) showed that the proportion between crystalline and amorphous regions within the starch granule and the extent of physical damage to starch were modified by nixtamalization. As an example, T_g for S was between 60 and 62.5°C, while the S‐DMF had a T_g of 45–55°C for damaged starch and 65–70°C for annealed starch. Additionally, the extraction of the nonconstitutive starch lipids provided starches with more consistent thermal properties, particularly in the behavior of gelatinization at different water content. This last observation might have important implications in the consistency of starch physicochemical properties and, consequently, in the quality of maize products such as tortillas.