Characterization of arrowroot starch in different agronomic managements

Abstract

Arrowroot is a plant originated in Latin America that has aroused interest in the food industry due to its high starch content, with differentiated characteristics and high commercial value. However, information on the management of arrowroot are scarce, precluding its commercial competition with other similar species, being necessary further studies with the crop. Thus, the objective of the present study was to characterize extracted starch from arrowroot grown under different agronomic management. Three agronomic factors were studied: planting systems (PS), forms of water management (WM) and planting density (PD). The experimental analyses were performed in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates, being evaluated the extraction yield, percent composition, quantity of starch, pH, titratable acidity, swelling power, solubility and electron microscopy analysis. In general, the analyzed extracted starches deriving from different agronomic treatments have low crude fiber, besides typical characteristics of arrowroot extracted starch such as texture, color, shape and size of granules, without any other apparent particle than the starch itself, indicating extraction efficiency. However, the planting density may have contributed to influence some parameters of the chemical composition of the extracted starch, such as the content of starch, ash, ether extract, protein and carbohydrate fraction.