Some Properties of Starches of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lind 1) Seed

Abstract

Starch granules were prepared from seeds of a sample of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lind 1), cultivated in a greenhouse, and four samples of loquat cultivated in the open field. The properties of the starch granules were examined. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The mean particle size of loquat seed starch were 12.6μm for the greenhouse culture and 9.5-10.7 μm for the open field culture. 2) The peak temperature for the gelatinization of loquat seed starch, obtained by dif-ferential scanning calorimetry (DSC), were 57.2°C for the greenhouse culture and 62.4-64.1°C for the open field culture. 3) The amylose contents of loquat seed starches, determined by gel chromatography of isoamylase-debranched materials were 28.6% for the greenhouse culture and 22.4-26.9% for the open field culture. 4) The peak viscosity and breakdown of loquat seed starches, determined by a Rapid Visco Analyzer, tended to be higher in the greenhouse culture than in the open field culture. 5) The X-ray diffractograms of the loquat seed starches showed Cb type patterns for the greenhouse culture and C type patterns for the open field culture.