ABSTRACT
Milled rice of four indica cultivars (PR114, PR116, PR118, and PAU201) obtained from early (June 5 and 15) and delayed (June 25 and July 5) transplanted paddy was evaluated for physicochemical, pasting, cooking, and protein characteristics. During the grain-filling and development stage, early transplanted paddy experienced average maximum and minimum temperatures of 32.8 and 22.3°C, respectively, against 30.8 and 15°C, respectively, for delayed transplanted paddy. Lightness (L*) value, protein content, and lipid content of milled rice were lower, whereas apparent amylose content, cooked grain hardness, final viscosity, and setback viscosity were higher in the delayed transplanted paddy. Whiteness of milled rice of PR114, PR116, and PR118 from delayed transplanted paddy was lower than milled rice from early transplanted paddy. PAU201 did not show any change in whiteness with delayed transplantation. Cooked rice of PAU201 showed exceptionally higher adhesiveness and lower hardness compared with other cultivars. Protein profiling showed a lower accumulation of prolamines in milled rice from PR114 and PAU201 upon delaying the transplantation from June 5 to July 5, whereas PR116 and PR118 showed a decrease in prolamine accumulation from transplantation on June 25. The changes in milled rice caused by delayed transplanting of paddy might be because of cool nighttime air temperature that affected the accumulation of starch, protein, and lipid.