a b s t r a c t
The properties of starch extracted from jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) seeds, collected from
west Assam after acid–alcohol modification by short term treatment (ST) for 15–30 min with concentrated
hydrochloric acid and long term treatment (LT) for 1–15 days with 1 M hydrochloric acid, were
investigated. Granule density, freeze thaw stability, solubility and light transmittance of the treated
starches increased. A maximum decrease in the degree of polymerisation occurred in ST of 30 min
(2607.6). Jackfruit starch had 27.1 ± 0.04% amylose content (db), which in ST initially decreased and then
increased with the severity of treatment; in LT the effect was irregular. The pasting profile and granule
morphology of the treated samples were severely modified. Native starch had the A-type crystalline pattern
and crystalline structure increased on treatment. FTIR spectra revealed slight changes in bond
stretching and bending. Colour measurement indicated that whiteness increased on treatment. Acid
modified jackfruit seed starch can have applications in the food industry.