Listing description
The winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus),
also known as the Goa bean, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, Manila bean, Mauritius bean, is a tropical legume plant native to New Guinea.
Detailed description
It grows abundantly
in hot, humid equatorial countries, from the Philippines and Indonesia to India, Burma, Malaysia , Thailand and Sri Lanka. It is widely
known, yet grown on a small scale in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea.[1] Winged bean is
well-recognized by farmers and consumers in the Asian region for its variety of
uses and disease tolerance. Winged bean is nutrient-rich, and all parts of the
plant are edible. Leaves can be eaten like spinach, flowers can be used in
salads, tubers can be eaten raw or cooked, seeds can be used in similar ways as
the soybean. The winged bean is an underutilized species but has the potential
to become a major multi-use food crop in the tropics of Asia, Africa and Latin
America.[1]
The winged bean is a
species that belongs to the genus Psophocarpus, a genus of 6-9
varying species.[1] Species in the
Psophocarpus genus are perennial herbs grown as annuals.[2] Species in the
Psophocarpus species are capable of climbing by twining their stems around a
support. Species in the Psophocarpus genus have tuberous roots and pods with
wings.
Appearance
The winged bean
plant grows as a vine with climbing stems and leaves, 3–4 m in height. It is an herbaceous perennial, but can be grown
as an annual. It is generally taller and notably larger than the Common bean. The bean pod is
typically 15–22 cm (6–9 in) long and has four wings with frilly edges
running lengthwise. The skin is waxy and the flesh partially translucent in the
young pods. When the pod is fully ripe, it turns an ash-brown color and splits
open to release the seeds. The large flower is a pale blue. The
beans themselves are similar to soybeans in both use and nutritional content
(being 29.8% to 39% protein).
There is abundant
variation in the appearance of winged bean. The shape of its leaves ranges from
ovate, deltoid, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate and long lanceolate.[1] The leaves of winged
bean also vary in colour appearing as different shades of green.
Stem colour is
commonly green, but can vary from shades of green to shades of purple.
Pod shape is most
commonly rectangular, but can also appear flat. Pod colour may also vary from
shades of cream, green, pink or purple. The exterior surface of the pod also
varies in texture. Pods can appear smooth or rough depending on genotype. Seed
shape is often round, but oval and rectangular seeds are also found. Seed
colour changes based on environmental factors and storage conditions.[1] Seeds may appear
white, cream, brown or dark tan in appearance. The shape of winged bean
tuberous roots also show variation
Human consumption and nutrition
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Winged beans, mature seeds, raw
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Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
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1,711 kJ
(409 kcal)
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41.7 g
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25.9 g
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16.3 g
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2.3 g
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6 g
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4.3 g
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29.65 g
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(90%)
1.03 mg
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(38%)
0.45 mg
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(21%)
3.09 mg
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(16%)
0.795 mg
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(13%)
0.175 mg
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(11%)
45 μg
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(44%)
440 mg
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(103%)
13.44 mg
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(50%)
179 mg
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(177%)
3.721 mg
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(64%)
451 mg
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(21%)
977 mg
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(3%)
38 mg
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(47%)
4.48 mg
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·
Units
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Percentages are roughly approximated usingUS recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
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One of the
advantages of the winged bean is its ability to produce food from many
different parts of the plant.
Pods- Can be eaten
unripe as a crunchy vegetable, cooked or raw
Seeds- Require
cooking for 2–3 hours to destroy trypsin inhibitors and hemagglutinins that
inhibit digestion.[4] Seeds can be roasted
like peanuts and have nutrient value comparative to soy beans. Average about
35% protein and 17% oil.
Roots-Can be eaten
raw or cooked. Tubers are high in protein and nutrient rich. Tuberous roots
have 20% protein, which is much higher than other edible roots.[4]
Leaves and Flowers-
Can be eaten raw or cooked. Flowers and leaves also have a high protein content
at 10-15%.[4]
Germination
Winged bean is a
self-pollinating plant but mutations and occasional outcrossing, may produce
variations in the species.[1] The pretreatment of
winged bean seeds is not required in tropical climate, but scarification of
seeds has shown to enhance the germination rate of seedlings.[1] Seed soaking may
also increase speed to germination, as is typical, and may be used in conjunction
with scarification. Seedlings under natural field conditions have been reported
to emerge between 5–7 days.[1]
It is recorded that
winged bean can grow as fast or faster than comparative legume plants including
soybeans.[16] There is a 40-140 day period of germination from sowing to
flowering of the winged bean plant.[1] The pod reaches its
full length and can be gathered to use as a vegetable 2 weeks after
pollination. Three weeks after pollination, the pod becomes fibrous and after six
weeks mature seeds can be harvested.[3] Tuber development
and flower production are dependent upon genotype and environmental factors.
Some varieties of winged bean do not produce tuberous roots.[1] The winged bean is a
tropical plant, and will only flower when the day length is shorter than 12
hours, though some varieties have been reported as day-length neutral.[1][5] All varieties of
winged bean grow on a vine and must grow over a support. Some examples of
support systems include: growing against exterior walls of houses, huts,
buildings; supporting against larger perennial trees; stakes placed in the
ground vertically; and structures made from posts and wires.[1]
Because the early
growth of winged bean is slow, it is important to maintain weeds. Slow early
growth makes winged bean susceptible to weed competition in the first 4–6 weeks
of development.[1] Khan (1982)
recommends weeding by hand or animal drawn tractor two times before the support
system of the winged bean is established.[1]
Winged bean can be
grown without added fertilizer as the plant has a bacterium on the nodules of
the roots that fixes nitrogen and allows the plant to absorb nitrogen.[3] Factors that
influence nitrogen fixation include, Rhizobium strain, interactions between
strain and host genotype, available nutrients and soil pH.
Climate
Winged bean thrives
in hot weather and favours humidity, but it is an adaptable plant. It is
reported that the winged bean can adjust to the climate of the equatorial
tropics.[1]Winged bean
production is optimal in humidity, but the species is susceptible to moisture
stress and waterlogging.[1] Ideal growing
temperature is reported to be 25 degrees Celsius.[1] Lower temperature is
reported to suppress germination, and extremely high temperatures are
detrimental to the yield of the plant.[1]
Moderate variations
in the growing climate of winged bean can result in variations in yield. It is
reported than growing winged bean in lower than favourable temperatures can
increase tuber production.[1] It is also reported
that leaf expansion rate is higher in a warmer climate. In addition to adequate
temperature, winged bean requires sufficient soil moisture at all stages of
growth to produce high yields.[1] Although the winged
bean plant is indigenous to the humid tropics, it is possible for the plant to
succeed in drier climate with plenty of irrigation.[3] Success has been
noted when the maturity of the plant and the drier part of the growing season
correspond.[1]
The hot, humid, and
relatively wet summers of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast are sufficient to raise
the plant to crop, though the shorter growing season and day-length flowering
issues will restrict the timing and amounts of yields.
Uses
This bean has been
called the "one species supermarket" because practically all of the
plant is edible. The beans are used as a vegetable, but the other
parts (leaves, flowers, and tuberous roots) are also
edible. The tender pods, which are the most widely eaten part of the plant (and
best eaten when under 1" in length), can be harvested within two to three
months of planting. The flowers are often used to color rice and pastries. The
flavor of the beans has a similarity to asparagus. The young leaves
can be picked and prepared as a leaf vegetable, similar to spinach. The roots can be
used as a root vegetable, similar to the potato, and have a nutty flavor; they are also much richer
in protein than potatoes. The
dried seeds can be useful as a flour and also to make a coffee-like drink. Each of these parts of the winged bean
provide a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium,iron, and other vitamins.[6] The seeds contain
35% protein and 18% oil.
Potential
The winged bean is
rich in protein and tocopherol, an antioxidant
that increases vitamin A use in the body (National Research
Council (U.S), 1975). Its ability to grow in heavy rainfall makes the
species a good candidate to adequately nourish the people of tropical
equatorial countries in Africa.[7] The wing bean can
also be used to produce winged bean milk made from water, winged beans, and
emulsifier.[8] Winged bean milk has
similar characteristics as soymilk without the same bean-rich flavour.[8] Winged bean has also
been reported as an effective remedy for smallpox and as a cure for vertigo in
Malaya.[2]
The winged bean also
provides many opportunities for economic benefit. Many parts of the winged bean
can be sold. Mature seeds can bring in a high price.[3] There is evidence of
smoked pods, uncooked tubers, cooked tubers, dry seeds, and leaves being sold
in domestic markets in South East and South Asia.[1] Winged bean also has
the potential to be used as animal feed for livestock and poultry.[1] The winged bean also
has the potential to be used as a replacement for fish meal used to raise
African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), a highly valued food fish in Africa.[9] Feeding fish
represents a large portion of operating cost for fish farmers and fishmeal is
scarce and high-priced. Winged bean can be used as the primary protein source
for fish feed to reduce farmer
dependence on fish meal availability.[9]
Winged bean also
shows potential as a cover crop and a restorative
crop. Planting winged bean uniform with the ground can reduce weeds and
function well as a cover crop.[1]The winged bean can
also function effectively as a restorative crop that can improve nutrient poor
soil with nitrogen when it is turned over into the soil.[1]
Local names
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South-East Asia:
South Asia:
Japan:
Pacific
Indian Ocean
PRICE
$11.57/KG OR $5.26/IB
For more information:
mobile: +2348039721941
contact person: emeaba uche
e-mail: emeabau@yahoo.com
website: www.franchiseminerals.com
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