Changes of viscosity characteristics of genetically diverse hexaploid wheat starches during pasting in water, 1% NaCl solution, or at pH 4 or pH 10 were studied using a Rapid Visco-Analyzer. Peak viscosity (PV), hot paste viscosity (HPV) and cool paste viscosity (CPV) of all the wheat starches was little affected in pH 4 and pH 10 treatments. In 1% NaCl, all starches showed substantial increases in all three parameters relative to pasting in water. The use of 1% beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) (cycloheptaamylose) solution increased PV of high-swelling starches, but generally slightly decreased that of low swelling starches in all treatment conditions. HPV was always reduced by addition of 1% beta-CD, but CPV was increased in most treatments for Anza and Yecora Rojo (low swelling), but decreased for Klasic (high swelling). Bacterial alpha-amylase was added to starch or flour. The effect of beta-CD was shown to be independent of alpha-amylase inhibition in wheat starch, but beta-CD strongly inhibited alpha-amylase in wheat flour.