Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis is an important derivative cultivar of cowpea planted widely in China, and popularly known as "Yard-long bean". There is lack of research about the structural characterization and physicochemical aspects of carbohydrate content in Yard-long bean seeds. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate structures, thermal and technological properties of Yard-long bean seeds starch (YSS). The starch contains little of ash, protein and total fiber meanwhile amylose content of 37.52%. The shapes of the starch granules obtained from field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were oval to semi-elliptical with little granules occurring in agglomerated structures clusters, and volume median diameter of granules ranged from 10.5 μm to 12.5 μm. The initial gelatinization temperature of YSS was 73.86 °C, peak temperature was 80.59 °C and final 88.53 °C. Solubility index (SI, 3.43% at 90 °C) and swelling power (SP, 6.62 g/g at 90 °C) were observed with low volume, which corroborated with the C-type structure shown by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high crystallinity degree. The extraction of YSS can be feasible, and it has suitable properties for use in the food industry.
Keywords: Cowpea; Granule structure; Physicochemical properties; Starch; Yard-long bean.
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