Impact of continuous or cycle high hydrostatic pressure on the ultrastructure and digestibility of rice starch granules

The effects of continuous or 2-cycle high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments (200 and 600 MPa) on the microstructure and digestibility of rice starches were investigated. The morphological and structural changes were characterized using polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray scattering and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, and the starch digestibility was examined by in vitro hydrolysis. Results showed that HHP at 600 MPa significantly alters the microstructure and lowers the resistant starch (RS) compared with HHP at 200 MPa. Under the same pressure level, the two 15-min cycle treatment induced more structural disruption, gelatinization, disappearance of surface protrusion, and lower RS of rice starches than that of the continuous HHP treatment (30 min). Based on the results on RS, the two 15-min cycle HHP treatment at 200 MPa could be beneficial for improving the functionality of the rice starch.     

Effect of heating temperature on the particle size distribution in waxy wheat flour

The particle size of waxy (amylose-reduced) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) starch was determined at isothermal temperatures by laser diffraction analysis. Flour samples were suspended in deionized water at temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 °C for 20–60 min. At 30 °C, all of the flour particles exhibited trimodal size distributions, i.e., the particles in the first, second, and third modes were <10 μm, 10–50 μm, and 51–300 μm, respectively. Control experiments with isolated starch indicated that the first and second modes were associated mainly with starch granules, whereas the third mode may have been related to gluten and gluten adhesion. The particle size distributions of waxy segregant wheat flours were temperature dependent. At 60 °C, there were significant changes in the particle size and distribution of waxy flours, which indicated the swelling of starch granules in response to elevated temperature. As the temperature increased, the peak particle size of waxy segregant wheat flours increased in different ways. The results suggest that variations in the swelling properties of selected waxy genotype flours may be due to the strength of starch–protein interaction and the capacity for starch granule gelatinization.     

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.     

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.In parallel, changes in the structure of the peripheral area of cooked grains were investigated on 3 μm cross sections under the same cooking conditions. Microscopic observations by auto fluorescence and after iodine staining revealed dynamic peripheral cell disruption at the same time as starch gelatinization, which may have a major impact on starch leaching and hence on the textural properties of the cooked grain.     

Physicochemical properties and amylopectin fine structures of A- and B-type granules of waxy and normal soft wheat starch

This work fractionated waxy and normal wheat starches into highly purified A- and B-type granule fractions, which were representative of native granule populations within parent native wheat starches, to accurately assess starch characteristics and properties of the two granule types. Wheat starch A- and B-type granules possessed different morphologies, granule specific surface area measurements, compositions, relative crystallinities, amylopectin branch chain distributions, and physical properties (swelling, gelatinization, and pasting behaviors). Within a genotype, total and apparent amylose contents were greater for A-type granules, while lipid-complexed amylose and phospholipid contents were greater for B-type granules. B-type (relative to A-type) granules within a given genotype possessed a greater abundance of short amylopectin branch chains (DP_n < 13) and a lesser proportion of intermediate (DP_n 13–33) and long (DP_n > 33) branch chains, contributing to their lower relative crystallinities. Variation in amylose and phospholipid characteristics appeared to account for observed differences in swelling, gelatinization, and pasting properties between waxy and normal wheat starch fractions of a common granule type. However, starch granule swelling and gelatinization property differences between A- and B-type granules within a given genotype were most consistently explained by their differential amylopectin chain-length distributions.     

Shading effects on canopy and tillering characteristics of continuously stocked palisadegrass in a silvopastoral system in the Amazon biome

In silvopastoral (SP) systems, forage responses depend on the microenvironment in which the plants develop. Our objective was to evaluate canopy and tillering characteristics of shaded 'Marandu' palisadegrass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst A Rich) Stapf, syn. Urochloa brizantha] under continuous stocking in a SP system. Treatments were one full sun (FS) and three shaded systems (silvopasture, SP) corresponding to distances from tree groves: 7.5 m north (SP1), and 15 m (SP2) and 7.5 m south (SP3) studied during two rainy seasons (Year 1 and Year 2). The tree in the SP system was Eucalyptus urograndis (hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden × Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake). The photosynthetic active radiation was greater in FS (923 μmol m^-2 s^-1), followed by SP2 (811 μmol m^-2 s^-1), SP1 (727 μmol m^-2 s^-1) and SP3 (673 μmol m^-2 s^-1). Forage accumulation in FS was 15% greater than the mean of SP1, SP2 and SP3 (10,663 kg DM/ha). There was no difference in net accumulation of leaf, stem and dead material, averaging 3,302, 3,420 and 4,063 kg DM/ha respectively. Leaf accumulation and accumulation rate were greater in Year 2, and leaf accumulation rate was similar among treatments (19 kg DM ha⁻¹ day⁻¹). Leaf proportion increased 14% from Year 1 to Year 2. Specific leaf area was greater for treatments SP1 and SP3 (193 cm²/g). Tiller population density was similar across treatments in Year 1. Shaded palisadegrass maintains leaf productivity similar to FS under continuous stocking in an SP system.     

Microwave irradiation differentially affect the physicochemical properties of waxy and non-waxy hull-less barley starch

Waxy and non-waxy hull-less barley kernels and their isolated starches were irradiated under different microwave conditions (power 640, 720, and 800 W, time 60, 120 and 180 s). Changes in physicochemical properties were studied to investigate the effects of microwave irradiation (MWI) on in-kernel starches and isolated starches. For in-kernel starch, microwave reduced the ratio of 1047/1022 cm⁻¹ wavelengths, gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH_g) and relative crystallinity (RC), indicating that microwave of starch within the cells disrupted the crystalline regions. For isolated starch, microwave decreased the ratio of 1047/1022 cm⁻¹ wavelengths but increased ΔH_g of isolated starch, indicating that microwaving resulted in disruption of amorphous structure and an increase in the amount of remaining double helix structure. Moreover, viscosities of in-kernel starches decreased as microwave power and time increased, but this was not observed in isolated starches. Microwave treatment induced an enhancement of gelatinization temperature for non-waxy starches (NWS) but decreased in waxy starches (WS). Microwave had a greater effect for swelling power and solubility on in-kernel MWI-WS than MWI-WS, whereas the reverse results were found between in-kernel MWI-NWS and MWI-NWS. The results indicated that amylose plays a profound role in the properties of isolated and in-kernel starches during microwaving.     

In vitro starch digestibility and predicted glycaemic indexes of buckwheat,oat, quinoa,sorghum, teff and commercial gluten-free bread

The in vitro starch digestibility of five gluten-free breads (from buckwheat, oat, quinoa, sorghum or teff flour) was analysed using a multi-enzyme dialysis system. Hydrolysis indexes (HI) and predicted glycaemic indexes (pGI) were calculated from the area under the curve (AUC; g RSR/100g TAC*min) of reducing sugars released (RSR), and related to that of white wheat bread. Total available carbohydrates (TAC; mg/4 g bread “as eaten”) were highest in sorghum (1634 mg) and oat bread (1384 mg). The AUC was highest for quinoa (3260 g RSR), followed by buckwheat (2377 g RSR) and teff bread (2026 g RSR). Quinoa bread showed highest predicted GI (95). GIs of buckwheat (GI 80), teff (74), sorghum (72) and oat (71) breads were significantly lower. Significantly higher gelatinization temperatures in teff (71 °C) and sorghum flour (69 °C) as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) correlated with lower pGIs (74 and 72). Larger granule diameters in oat (3–10 μm) and sorghum (6–18 μm) in comparison to quinoa (1.3 μm) and buckwheat flour (3–7 μm) as assessed with scanning electron microscopy resulted in lower specific surface area of starch granules. The data is in agreement with predictions that smaller starch granules result in a higher GI.     

In vitro starch digestibility and predicted glycaemic indexes of buckwheat,oat, quinoa,sorghum, teff and commercial gluten-free bread

The in vitro starch digestibility of five gluten-free breads (from buckwheat, oat, quinoa, sorghum or teff flour) was analysed using a multi-enzyme dialysis system. Hydrolysis indexes (HI) and predicted glycaemic indexes (pGI) were calculated from the area under the curve (AUC; g RSR/100g TAC*min) of reducing sugars released (RSR), and related to that of white wheat bread. Total available carbohydrates (TAC; mg/4 g bread “as eaten”) were highest in sorghum (1634 mg) and oat bread (1384 mg). The AUC was highest for quinoa (3260 g RSR), followed by buckwheat (2377 g RSR) and teff bread (2026 g RSR). Quinoa bread showed highest predicted GI (95). GIs of buckwheat (GI 80), teff (74), sorghum (72) and oat (71) breads were significantly lower. Significantly higher gelatinization temperatures in teff (71 °C) and sorghum flour (69 °C) as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) correlated with lower pGIs (74 and 72). Larger granule diameters in oat (3–10 μm) and sorghum (6–18 μm) in comparison to quinoa (1.3 μm) and buckwheat flour (3–7 μm) as assessed with scanning electron microscopy resulted in lower specific surface area of starch granules. The data is in agreement with predictions that smaller starch granules result in a higher GI.     

Small-scale mashing procedure for predicting ethanol yield of sorghum grain

A small-scale mashing (SSM) procedure requiring only 300 mg of samples was investigated as a possible method of predicting ethanol yield of sorghum grain. The initial SSM procedure, which was conducted similarly to the mashing step in a traditional fermentation test, hydrolyzed just 38.5–47.2% of total sorghum starch to glucose. The initial procedure was simplified to contain only one liquefaction step, which did not influence subsequent saccharification. Thereafter, parameters such as temperature, pH, enzyme dosage, and saccharification time were optimized. Results showed that 91.2–97.5% of the total starch in 18 sorghum hybrids had been hydrolyzed to glucose using the following conditions: liquefaction at 86 °C for 90 min, 20 μL of α-amylase per 30 g of sample; pH adjustment by adding 50 μL of 2 M acetate buffer at pH 4.2 to each microtube; saccharification at 68 °C for 90 min, 200 μL of amyloglucosidase per 30 g of sample. There were strong linear correlations between completely hydrolyzed starch (CHS) from SSM and ethanol yields from both traditional (R² = 0.86) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF, R² = 0.93) procedures. CHS was a better indicator for predicting ethanol yield in fermentation than total starch.     

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.     

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.     

Investigation of the high-amylose maize starch gelatinization behaviours in glycerol-water systems

The effect of glycerol on gelatinization behaviours of high-amylose maize starch was evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), texture analyzer (TPA) and rheometer. Gelatinization of the high-amylose maize starches with glycerol content of 10% (w/w) began at 95.4 °C (T_o), peaked at 110.3 °C (T_p), and completed at 118.9 °C (T_c). The birefringence began to disappear at around 100 °C and finished at 120 °C which corresponded well to the onset and conclusion temperatures obtained by DSC. The high-amylose maize starch granules maintained original morphological structure at 100 °C and swelled to a great degree at 110 °C. The high-amylose maize starch paste formed at 100 °C showed the lowest hardness (39.92 g), while at 120 and 130 °C, showed the highest hardness (610.89 g and 635.43 g, respectively). It should be noted that in going from 100 °C to 110 °C there is a significant increase in the viscosity of the slurry solution. The identical apparent viscosity was observed when the shear rate exceed 100 s⁻¹, resulting from the high-amylose maize starch granules were completely gelatinized at 120 °C, which was consistent with DSC analysis.     

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.     

Flaking as a corn preparation technique for dry-grind ethanol production using raw starch hydrolysis

A 2³ full-factorial study was designed to study the effect of corn preparation methods (flaking and grinding) on dry-grind ethanol performance using raw starch hydrolysis (RSH) process. Moisture content (15, 22%), flaker roller gapsetting (0.508 mm, 1.016 mm), and grinding were studied. Fifteen hundred g of corn samples were cracked, roller pressed, and were either ground further or retained, along with control ground corn. A bimodal size distribution was observed for ground corn, regardless of flaking. Moisture at 22% resulted in bigger-sized flakes with d₅₀ between ∼1.3 and 1.8 mm, compared to ∼138–169 μm for ground corn. Not all ground corn resulted in higher ethanol concentration in fermentation beer; the ethanol levels in beer did not reflect the starch hydrolysis trend that favored ground corn. In a related study, the beer ethanol concentration did not show a clear trend with rollermill gapsetting while fermenting the flakes produced at 0.203, 0.305, 0.406, and 0.508 mm gapsettings. Generally, flakes from corn at 22% moisture resulted in higher ethanol content in beer. Rollermill flaking was found comparable to hammermill grinding for dry-grind corn ethanol via raw starch hydrolysis and yeast fermentation.     

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.     

Chemical Composition,Mineral Profile,and Functional Properties of Canna (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canna edulis</Emphasis>) and Arrowroot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Maranta spp</Emphasis>.) Starches

The aim of the present study was to evaluate some chemical and mineral characteristics and functional and rheological properties of Canna and Arrowroot starches produced in the Venezuelan Andes. Canna starch showed a higher (P < 0.05) moisture, ash, and crude protein content than arrowroot starch, while crude fiber, crude fat, and amylose content of this starch were higher (P < 0.05). Starches of both rhizomes own phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc in their composition. Phosphorus, sodium, and potassium are the higher in both starches. Water absorption, swelling power, and solubility values revealed weak bonding forces in Canna starch granules; this explained the lower gelatinization temperature and the substantial viscosity development of Canna starch during heating. Arrowroot starch showed a higher gelatinization temperature measure by DSC, than Canna starch and exhibited a lower value of ΔH. Both starches show negative syneresis. The apparent viscosity of Canna starch was higher (P < 0.05) than the Arrowroot starch values. The size (wide and large) of Canna starch granules was higher than arrowroot starch. From the previous results, it can be concluded that Canna and Arrowroot starches could become interesting alternatives for food developers, depending on their characteristics and functional properties.     

Characterization of starches of proso,foxtail, barnyard,kodo, and little millets

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures of small millet starch granules showed more large polygonal and few small spherical or polygonal granules. The granules of small millets resembled those of rice starch granules. The size of the starch granules ranged from 0.8–10 m. The size of the granules was larger in barnyard millet and smaller in proso millet. Several granules showed deep indentation caused by protein bodies. SEM of starch isolated from 24 hour-germinated kodo millet showed pitting or pinholes at some points due to the attack of amylases (preferentially on bigger granules). Brabender viscoamylograph studies on small millet starches revealed that the gelatinization temperatures ranged from 75.8 to 84.9 ^° C. Barnyard millet possessed lower amylograph viscosity, minimum breakdown, and relative breakdown values when compared to the other small millets.     

Effects of particle size on the quality attributes of reconstituted whole-wheat flour and tortillas made from it

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of whole-wheat flour (WWF) particle size on the quality attributes of WWF tortillas. WWF samples of different particle size distributions from commercial U.S. hard white (median diameters: 175.7, 128.6, 120.0, 108.5 and 102.4 μm), hard red winter (median diameters: 173.7, 133.6, 124.3, 110.8 and 104.2 μm) and hard red spring (median diameters: 173.7, 132.1, 124.7, 112.9, 106.3 μm) wheat classes were obtained by fine grinding of bran and shorts and re-combining with the rest of fractions. For all three wheat classes, as WWF median particle size decreased, the L* (lightness) value decreased but the adjusted damaged starch, polyphenol oxidase activity, and a* and b* values increased. Mixolab data showed that development time decreased as WWF particle size was reduced, while stability time and starch retrogradation increased. As for WWF tortilla quality, the breaking force and extensibility increased with decreasing particle size from ∼175 to 129–134 μm, but diameter and thickness were not significantly affected. The results indicated that reducing the median particle sizes of WWFs from ∼175 μm to ∼130 μm would significantly improve the WWF tortilla quality.     

Amylose and amylopectin in starch by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with multi-angle light scattering and refractive index detection (AF4–MALS–RI)

The rheological and functional properties of starch are influenced by the size and molar mass distribution of the polymer, the ratio of amylose (AMY) to amylopectin (AMP), and branching characteristics. Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) was applied to fractionate five different maize hybrids of varying AMY:AMP ratio. When coupled to detection by multi-angle light scattering and refractive index (MALS–RI), it was possible to determine mass percentage and the average weight-average molar mass (M_w) without the need for calibration standards. Sufficient resolution of amylose and amylopectin was achieved by applying a gradient cross-flow on a 17 cm trapezoidal channel with a 350 μm spacer. The observed M_w ranged from about 2 × 10⁵ to 4 × 10⁵ for amylose and from 1 × 10⁸ to 4 × 10⁸ for amylopectin. The corresponding z-average root-mean-square radii (R_z) for AMP ranged from 145 to over 300 nm. Low recoveries from the AF4 channel were found to be due primarily to the focusing step. The calculated mass percent of AMY and AMP from integrated RI peak areas agreed well with nominal values for the individual starch hybrids. Both qualitative and quantitative data were reproducible. The results show the AF4–MALS–RI method to be well suited for routine molecular characterization of starch.