Various physicochemical, thermal and rheological properties of starches separated from Indian potato cultivars were related to each other using the Pearson correlation. Amylose content, water-binding capacity (WBC), swelling power, solubility, ash content, transmittance, syneresis and consistency coefficient (K) were determined. Amylose content was significantly correlated with swelling power (r = 0.904), transmittance (r = 0.656) and syneresis (r = 0.777) of the starches. Thermal properties such as transition temperatures (T-o, T-p and T-c), gelatinisation range (R), gelatinisation enthalpy (DeltaH(gel)) and peak height index (PHI) of the starches were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). T-o, T-p and T-c were positively correlated with swelling power and negatively correlated with solubility and WBC. PHI was positively correlated with WBC and negatively correlated with ash content and swelling power. R had a negative correlation with WBC (r = -0.726) and PHI (r = -0.737). A positive correlation between R and T, was observed. WBC was negatively correlated with swelling power (r = -0.749). Syneresis of potato starches was positively correlated with transmittance, ash content, swelling power and amylose content. K was positively correlated with amylose content (r = 0.587). The results showed a significant variation in various functional and thermal properties of starches separated from different potato cultivars. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.