Plantain-starch: Microstructural, physicochemical, and morphological characteristics of two cultivars grown in Malaysia

Abstract

Starches isolated from mature green “Nangka” and “Tanduk” plantain (Musa paradisiaca L) cultivars grown in Malaysia were appraised for their morphological, physicochemical, and structural properties. The amylose contents of “Nangka” and “Tanduk” starches were 31.79 and 26.08% and the degree of relative crystallinity were 62.1 and 52.1%, respectively. Both cultivar starches presented an A-type diffraction pattern, which has rarely been reported for banana starches. Gelatinization temperatures evaluated by differential scanning calorimeter were higher for “Tanduk” starch than “Nangka” starch. The scanning electron micrograph of “Nangka” starch granules was larger than “Tanduk” starch with an average particle size of 38.77 and 23.91 μm, respectively. In addition, “Nangka” starch produced lower molar mass (Mw) and gyration radius (RG) compared to “Tanduk” starch.