Karakteristik Fisik dan Fungsional Pati Keladi (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) dari Beberapa Lokasi di Maluku Physical and Functional Characteristic of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) Starches from some locations in Mollucas

This study aimed to characterize the physical and functional properties of cocoyam starch from several locations in Maluku. The use of starch in the processed food and non-food industries will be determined by its various characteristics depending on the starch source. It is expected from this research that data can be used to assess the potential of cocoyam starch in its use in the food and non-food industries. Cocoyam tubers from Maluku, i.e. Buru Island, Saparua Island, and Saumlaki Island were used as samples in this research.. The wet extraction method was used to produce cocoyam starch in this research. Physical properties such as tuber length and diameter, tuber skin color, yield were analyzed. Swelling power and solubility, water holding capacity (WHC), paste clarity, pH and color were among functional properties observed. The results showed that the length of cocoyam tubers from the three sample locations was in the range of 8.75-36 cm with a diameter of 8-22 cm. The skin color of the tubers was found to be blackish-brown, and the color of the tubers is white with a starch yield of 12-16%. Based on the statistical analysis results, starch's functional properties like swelling power, solubility, WHC, paste clarity, pH, and color for the three starches were not significantly different from one another. This shows that differences in growing locations within an archipelago did not affect cocoyam starch's functional properties.