Effect of processing on physical characteristics of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) varieties

Abstract

Finger millet is one of the important small millets cultivated in many South Asian and African countries. An investigation was undertaken to study the effect of processing on physical characteristics of finger millet varieties. Five varieties of finger millet namely GPU 66, GPU 67, GPU 71, MR 6 and PR 202 were investigated for their physical characteristics before and after processing such as malting and popping. Colour, 1000 seed weight, 1000 seed volume, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity, swelling index, specific gravity, bulk density, percent germination, malt recovery and percent popping were analysed for raw, malted and popped finger millet varieties. Among these physical characteristics 1000 seed weight, 1000 seed volume, hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity, swelling index of germinated was found to be higher followed by raw and popped finger millet varieties. However the mean specific gravity and bulk density was found to be high in raw followed by malted and popped. The mean percent germination (99.0 %), malt recovery (82.0 %) and popping (76.0 %) was found to be higher in GPU 71.