Abstract: The research on starch characteristics of matured lotus rhizome indicated that: the sort order of the four lotus varietiesps AAC from the highest to the lowest were: ‘Meirenhong’, ‘Elian 1’, ‘Elian 4’,‘Wuzhi 2’. Pellet and ellipse starch granules were found in lotus rhizome, the number of pellet starch granules in‘Wuzhi 2’and‘Elian 4’was more than in‘Elian 1’and‘Meirenhong’. RVA profile indicated that the starch gelatinization characteristics of‘Wuzhi 2’was similar to‘Elian 4’, their peak viscosity was both high and cool viscositywas below the peak viscosity far away, the consistence was very low and the setback was negative. But in‘Elian 1’and‘Meirenhong’, the peak viscositywas both low and cool viscosity was close to or even higher than peak viscosity, consistence and setback were significantly higher than the other two varieties. AAC in lotus rhizome was negatively correlated with peak viscosity and breakdown, with significant coefficients
of - 0.9748^**and - 0.9793^**, but positively to consistence, setback, cool viscosity, peak time and pasting temperature with significant coefficients of 0.9860^**, 0.9804^**, 0.9339^*, 0.9392^* and 0.9130^*, respectively. The difference of starch granule form and configuration leaded to the difference of the starch gelatinization characteristics.

Key words: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, Starch granule, AAC, RVA