Changes in physicochemical properties of waxy corn starches at different stages of harvesting

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2013-10, Vol.98 (1), p.241-248
• Main Authors: Ketthaisong, Danupol, Suriharn, Bhalang, Tangwongchai, Ratchada, Lertrat, Kamol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; amylopectin; Amylopectin chain length distribution; Amylose - chemistry; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical constitution; Chemical Phenomena; corn starch; Economic plant physiology; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genotype; granules; harvest date; Harvesting stage; Kernel maturity; maturity stage; Natural polymers; pasting properties; physicochemical properties; Physicochemical property; Physicochemistry of polymers; pollination; seeds; Starch - chemistry; Starch and polysaccharides; Starch granule; viscosity; Waxes - chemistry; Waxy corn; Zea mays - chemistry; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - growth & development
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.06.016

•The starch contents showed an increasing trend in relation to delayed harvesting time.•The starch granule size increased in relation to kernel development.•Average chain length distribution of amylopectin can affect the physicochemical properties of starches.•The pasting peak viscosity of starches increased with delayed harvesting until maturity stage. Starches were isolated from immature waxy corn kernels harvested at 0, 2, 4 and 6 days after optimum stage (DAO) and from mature kernels at 16 DAO. The starch contents showed varied according to genotypes and harvesting stages. The accumulation of starches showed an increasing trend in relation to delayed harvesting time, from the optimum stage until the physiological maturity stage. Among all harvesting stages, medium granules had the highest contribution to the total starch volume (60.8–81.5%), followed by large (5.7–30.1%), and small granules (9.1–15.3%). Average chain length distribution of amylopectin ranged from DP 14.7 to 16.9 for KKU–UB, DP 16.9 to 17.4 for KKU–JD, and DP 5.7 to 30.1 for Violet white. The pasting behaviors of starches were greatly affected by harvesting times. The peak viscosity of starches increased with delayed harvesting until physiological maturity and then decreased until dried kernels at 35 days after pollination.