Résumé
•The molecular features of the non-conventional starches must be studied in order to understand its functional properties.•This study focuses the characterization of starches isolated from wild yams to be applied in different industries.•Increasing information on wild starches sources will increase its applications.•The study denotes the molecular and functional properties of non-conventional starches.
This work aimed to characterize the molecular structure and functional properties of starches isolated from wild Dioscorea yams grown at the Amazons, using conventional and up-to-date methodologies. Among the high purity starches isolated (≥99%), the chain lengths were similar, whereas variations in gelatinization profile were observed. Starches have shown varied-shaped granules with monomodal distribution, and B-type crystallinity. Variations in amylose contents found by three analyses were hypothesized being related to intermediate material. Linear chain lengths were similar, and their amylopectins showed a dense, spherical conformation and similar molecular characteristics. The average molar mass and the radius of gyration of the chromatograms of the yam amylopectin, M¯W and R¯G were ranging between 174×106gmol−1 and 237×106gmol−1, and 201nm and 233nm, respectively. The white yams starches were more sensible to enzymes than the other two. All starches have shown a wide range of functional and nutritional properties.