Effect of Soy Protein Subunit Composition on the Rheological Properties of Soymilk during Acidification

The effect of soy protein subunit composition on the acid-induced aggregation of soymilk was investigated by preparing soymilk from different soybean lines lacking specific glycinin and beta-conglycinin subunits. Acid gelation was induced by glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) and analysis was done using diffusing wave spectroscopy and rheology. Aggregation occurred near pH 5.8 and the increase in radius corresponded to an increase in the elastic modulus measured by small deformation rheology. Diffusing wave spectroscopy was also employed to follow acid gelation, and data indicated that particle interactions start to occur at a higher pH than the pH of onset of gelation (corresponding to the start of the rapid increase in elastic modulus). The protein subunit composition significantly affected the development of structure during acidification. The onset of aggregation occurred at a higher pH for soymilk samples containing group IIb (the acidic subunit A(3)) of glycinin, than for samples prepared from Harovinton (a commercial variety containing all subunits) or from genotypes null in glycinin. The gels made from lines containing group I (A(1), A(2)) and group IIb (A(3)) of glycinin resulted in stiffer acid gels compared to the lines containing only beta-conglycinin. These results confirmed that the ratio of glycinin/beta-conglycinin has a significant effect on gel structure, with an increase in glycinin causing an increase in gel stiffness. The type of glycinin subunits also affected the aggregation behavior of soymilk.