Properties of Starches in Chinese Yam, Dioscorea oppsita Thunb. Irradiated with Proton Beam

The survival rate and thermal, crystal, and physicochemical properties of starches in chinese yam tubers irradiated to proton beam were determined. Survival rate was decreased with increased proton beam irradiation. Amylose content of D. opposita starches from different proton beam ranged from 13.2% to 17.8%. D. opposita starch at 5 Gy showed the highest ΔHgel values (12.0 J/g) while D. opposita starch at 25 Gy showed the lowest values (10.1 J/g). Several parameters such as PKV (peak viscosity), HPV (Hot peak viscosity) and CPV (Cooling peak viscosity) decreased with the increase in irradiation dose. The degrees of crystallinity of the D. opposita starches at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 Gy were 37.2, 38.3, 38.9, 39.2 and 39.9%, respectively. It might be deduced that proton beam irradiation causes changes of starch, especially at high dose irradiation.