Some Properties of Normal‐ and Waxy‐Type Starches of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L

Starch granules were prepared from seeds of two types of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., which are native to Nepal. The perisperm of one type of seeds stained reddish‐brown with iodine solution and that of the other blue. Starch granules had round shape of about 1 μm diameter. X‐ray diffraction diagrams were very similar each other and identical with the corresponding ones of rice and maize starches (A‐type). Amylose contents and distribution of average chain‐lengths of amylopectin were determined by gel filtration for isoamylase‐debranched starches. Amylose content was about 14% and 0%, resp. Both types of Amaranthus starches had typical amylopectin nearly identical with those of rice and maize starches. Starch‐granule digestibility by amylases and pasting characteristics of the Amaranthus starches were similar to those of fine starch granules.