Targeting of an appropriate amylose type starch for specific product applications

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Abstract
Some varieties of maize are known to produce starches with different chemical and physical properties. These characteristics have been recognized over the years to provide different functional properties. Amylose, in particular, has been used to provide unique functionality in numerous applications where gel strength and rigidity, as well as film forming capability, have been desired qualities. In recent years, researchers have begun to recognize that amylose is not a single chemical substance, but rather a diverse group of glucans differing in molecular size, and branching characteristics. The main shared attribute of all “amylose” polymers is their common ability to bind iodine. This binding ability is still the basis for most routine amylose determination assays. We have shown that there are uniquely different amylose polymers, and our laboratory has reported on some of the differences in physical properties. This paper reports how these unique physical properties can be applied effectively to practical applications.