Multi-scale structures and functional properties of starches from Indica hybrid, Japonica and waxy rice

The structural and functional properties of starches from three rice grains differing in amylose content (19.9, 13.4 and 0.8% for Japonica, Indica hybrid and waxy rice, respectively) were investigated using a range of characterization methods Indica hybrid starch (IHS) had the highest proportion of intermediate (DP 13–24) and long branch chains (DP ≥ 37) and the lowest proportion of short branch chains (DP 6–12), whereas the opposite results were observed for Japonica starch (JS). The results for waxy rice starch (WS) were between those of IHS and JS. Rice starches showed a typical A-type X-ray diffraction pattern with the relative crystallinity ranging from 33.4% for JS to 39.4% for WS. Significant differences were observed in lamellar distance and short-range molecular order characterized by IR ratio of absorbances at 1047/1022 cm−1 and full width of half maximum (FWHM) of the band at 480 cm−1. WS showed a higher swelling power and a lower close packing concentration at temperatures from 60 to 90 °C. The lower peak viscosity of WS was attributed to the formation of less rigid swollen granules at a concentrated regime. WS showed a higher in vitro digestibility compared with IHS and JS.