Abstract
Starch was isolated from nine Korean sweet potato varieties(Shinmi, Seangmi, Yulmi, Shinyulmi, Sunmi, Jeungmi, Mokpo 26, Mokpo 29, and Mokpo 30) and analysed in its physicochemical properties in comparison with a commercial sweet potato starch(Kumokanyu) imported from China. Protein content in the isolated starch was highest(1.1%) in Mokpo 29 and lowest(0.3%) in Kumokanyu, whereas lipid content was equally less than 0.2%. Pasting analysis by Rapid Viscoanalyser(RVA) showed that Yulmi starch had the lowest pasting temperature(70.2oC) whereas Kumokanyu did the highest one (74.3oC). Under a differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), however, Kumokanyu showed the lowest onset temperature(61.8oC) and enthalpy(42.0 J/g) for crystal melting. Shinyulmi showed the highest peak viscosity of the starch paste, but shear thinning was significant like commercial potato starch. Kumokanyu, however, displayed the least peak visicosity but good shear stability. With the starch gels prepared at 4oC, Mokpo 29 showed the highest hardness, whereas Shinyulmi did the lowest one. Against repeated freeze thawing treatments, the starch gel of Kumokanyu was most stable, and among the Korean varieties, Yulmi, Shinyulmi, Jeungmi and Mokpo 26 had good stability. According to the chain distribution analysis, Shinyulmi and Mokpo 29 consisted of larger quanitites of shorter amylopectin chains than Kumokanyu, potato and corn starches.
