HOLES IN STARCH GRANULES - CONFOCAL, SEM AND LIGHT-MICROSCOPY STUDIESOF STARCH GRANULE STRUCTURE

Following an initial observation of putative holes within potato starc h granules during observation in a medium with the same refractive ind ex, the internal architecture of starch granules has been investigated using confocal, scanning electron and light microscopy. These complim entary microscopy techniques confirmed the existence of holes at the h ilum of potato, rice and wheat starch granules. Observations were made with minimal sample preparation to avoid the generation of artifactua l holes. Using image analysis we have quantitatively measured the occu rrence and the size distribution of holes and linked their appearance to the drying of the granule.