Understanding the multi-scale structure and physicochemical properties of millet starch with varied amylose content.

The multi-scale structure and physicochemical properties of starch from five indigenous millet varieties were investigated and their correlations were revealed. Results showed that apparent amylose content (AAC) ranged from 12.3% to 27.4%, and as the amylose increasing, the ordered degree of starch double-helical, ordered molecular structure and crystalline structures displayed a declined trend. All millet starches showed polygonal, spherical or irregular shapes varied with size, but XIN-3 starch granules (highest AAC) presented higher granule rigidity, compactness and bulk intensity. Specifically, the ordered molecular structure (e.g., higher double-helix content, short-range ordered degree and relative crystallinity) of millet starch with low amylose limited the swelling degree of starch granules and in turn decreased the characteristic viscosity. However, rapidly digestible starch (RDS) was significantly negatively correlated with AAC and ordered molecular structure. The information obtained in this study would be significant in the rational utilization of these millet starches in food industry fields.