Abstract:Starch retrogradation influences the taste quality of rice. The physicochemical properties of retrogradable rice starch have been extensively reported, but there is still a lack of research on the physicochemical properties of nonretrogradable rice starch with a low amylose content. In this study, four rice lines, NCIR198 with retrogradation, NPDC93112 with weak retrogradation, and two non-retrogradable PSBG4 and PSBG41, were selected to analyze the physicochemical properties of their endosperm starches. The results showed that, the amylopectin content, short A chain ratio, 1 047/1 022 cm-1 ratio, crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy of the four rice lines were 12.43%~13.54%, 25.25%~31.59%, 0.754~0.919 and 6.72~13.42 J/g, respectively. The surfaces of NCIR198 starch granules were relatively compact and smooth, whilst the surfaces of NPDC93112, PSBG4 and PSBG41 starch granules were relatively rough and loose, with fine pinholes. The proportion of short A chains in PSBG4 and PSBG41 was significantly higher than those in NPDC93112 and NCIR198. The ratios of 1 047/1 022 cm-1 of PSBG4 and PSBG41 were significantly lower than that of NCIR198. The crystallinity of PSBG4 or PSBG41 was significantly lower than that of NPDC93112 or NCIR198. The gelatinization enthalpy of PSBG4 or PSBG41 was significantly lower than that of NCIR198. In addition, the gelatinization enthalpy of the low-amylose rice starch without regeneration was small, and the recovery value of the paste of this starch was small and not easy to recrystallize. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for cultivating of low-amylose rice varieties without regeneration.