Author(s): Karuppasamy P and D Malathi

Abstract:
Little millet varieties (T₂V₁ - CO2 (TNAU), T₂V₂ - CO4 (TNAU), T₂V₃ - CO3 (TNAU), T₂V₄ - Chittansamai (landrace), T₂V₅ - Kozhuthanasamai (landrace), T₂V₆ - Market variety), were procured from different places and study their physical and nutritional characteristics to found that best little millet variety for the standardization of different value added products. The physical characteristics of little millet varieties viz., thousand grain weight, thousand grain volume and bulk density were studied. Among the six varieties T₂V₂ was higher than other varieties. The values of thousand grain weight, thousand grain volume and bulk density of whole grain and dehulled grain was 2.87 and 2.47, 4.00 and 3.20 and 0.75 and 0.92 for T₂V_2. The Carbohydrate, protein, crude fibre, calcium and iron content was 66.75g, 7.50g, 7.40g, 16.50mg and 9.15mg in CO4 (TNAU) respectively. The overall results revealed that T₂V₂ sample were comparatively higher in physical and nutrient content than the other varieties; it was found that the variety T₂V₂ were best suited for the product development.