Physical and Structural Characteristics of Endosperm Starch of Four Local Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli L.) Collections in Korea

Physical and structural characteristics of four local barnyardgrass flour and starch were investigated. Amylose content ranged from 6.9 to 12.5%. The BP 3563 and BP 3606 were low amylose lines, and the BP 3592 and BP 3610 showed very low amylose lines. Peak viscosities of four barnyardgrass collections BP-3563, BP-3592, BP-3606, and BP-3610 ranged 264 to 2397. All barnyard grass lines displayed an A-type X-ray diffraction pattern showing the strong diffraction peak at around 2θ values 15°, 17°, 18° and 23°, and a small peak at 20° 2θ. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the starch granule sizes ranged 5.5-12.5 μm in diameter showing polygonal and rarely spherical in shape with round edges and some pores at the surface. Starch crystallinity of BP 3563, BP 3592, BP 3606, and BP 3610 was 23.9, 25.0, 24.7, and 25.5%, respectively.