A comparative study on the physicochemical and pasting properties of starch and flour from different banana (Musa spp.) cultivars grown in Indonesia

Crystalline pattern, granular morphology, physicochemical and pasting properties of banana starch and flour from three cooking banana cultivars (Kapas, Kepok and Nangka) and one dessert banana cultivar (Ambon) were compared. The result showed that cooking banana had a B-type crystalline pattern, while the dessert banana exhibited a C-type crystalline pattern. The flour exhibited higher crystallinity than the extracted starch. Nangka and Ambon starches possessed similar crystallinity (33-34%) while the crystallinity of Kapas starch (38.6%) was close to that of Kepok starch (39.4%). Elongated shape was typical of the starch granules of Kapas while spheroidal shape was seen in the rest of the cultivars. Cultivar did not significantly affect the swelling volume (SV) and solubility (except in Ambon cultivar) (p > .05) but determined water absorption capacity (WAC) and freeze-thaw stability (FTS) (p > .05). Ambon cultivar was the most stable to retrogradation while Kepok was the least stable which may be attributed to the different contents of amylose. Pasting properties, color and texture characteristics of starch were dependent on their cultivars and the presence of non-starch components. Non-starch contents increased the functional properties, pasting point and breakdown viscosity but decreased texture characteristics and setback viscosity. Kepok was the most resistant to gelatinization. Overall granule shape and starch crystalline type did not play any role in the different responses to the properties examined in the study but amylose content may have contributed to the freeze-thaw stability while crystallinity may have affected the starch pasting point.