Characterisation of sweetpotato from Papua New Guinea and Australia: Physicochemical, pasting and gelatinisation properties

► We characterise 25 cultivars of sweetpotato for their main properties. ► The cultivars either readily paste in excess water or exhibit restricted swelling. ► Starch granule morphology and crystalline structure are identical in the cultivars. ► There are differences in amylose content and enthalpy of gelatinisation. ► Functional properties of the cultivars are predictable from the chemical properties.