Abstract
The winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) is one of six species of the genus Psophocarpus and the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae). Psophocarpus tetragonolobus is a twining, perennial herbaceous plant that is characterized by its tuberous roots and its winged pod. All species in the genus have tuberous roots and winged pods and are therefore technically all winged beans. Because P. tetragonolobus has been most extensively studied, the term winged bean is currently used almost exclusively for this species. Although the winged bean is perennial, it is most usually cultivated as an annual, because for pod and seed production (but not for root yield), productivity is higher in the first year than in the second year. Banerjee et al. (1984) found that fresh tuber weights may be 80–230 g in the first year of growth, and as high as 369–392 g per plant in the second year. Length of the winged pod averages 30 cm (Pospisil et al, 1971). The number of pods per plant in the first year ranges from 60 to 77 (Banerjee et al, 1984) or more depending on level of fertilization and availability of moisture.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banerjee, A., Bagchi, D.K. and Si, L.K. (1984) Studies on the potential of winged bean as a multi-purpose legume cover crop in tropical regions. Exp. Agrie., 20, 297–301.
Chevalier, N.A. (1920) Exploration Botanique de L ´Afrique Occidental Francaise, Paris.
Claydon, A. (1980). The use of legumes as sources of edible oil with special reference to winged bean. Proceedings of a Conference on Legumes in the Tropics. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Pertanian, Malaysia.
de Lumen, B.O. and Salamat, L.A. (1980) Trypsin inhibitor activity in winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and the possible role of tannin, J. Agrie, 28,533–6.
Ekpengong, T.E. and Borchers, R.L. (1981) Some toxic factors in winged bean seedsI. Antitrypsin, hemagglutinating and urease activities. Nutr. Rep. Int., 23, 865–70.
Gillespie, J.M., Blagrove, R.J. and Kortt, A.A. (1981) Characterization of Winged Bean Seed Proteins. Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Develo** the Potential of the Winged Bean. 19–23 Jan 1981, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Hutchinson, J. and Dalziel, J.M. (1958) (Revised by R.W.J. Keay). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Published by Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations, London.
Hymowitz, T. and Boyd, J. (1977) Origin, ethnobotany and agricultural potential of the winged bean. Econ. Bot., 31, 180–8.
Jaffé, W.G. and Korte, R. (1976) Nutritional characteristics of the winged bean in rats. Nutr. Rep. Int., 14, 449–5.
Karikari, S.K. (1980) An integrated approach towards agronomic and research needs on the winged bean: a case study of winged bean collaborative progress in Ghana, in The Winged Bean; Proceeding of the First International Symposium in Develo** the Potentials of the Winged Bean. Las Banos, Philippines, 1978, pp 150–9.
Khan, T.N., Bohn, J.C. and Stephenson, R.A. (1977) Winged bean cultivars in Papua New Guinea. World Crops and Livestock Sept/Oct., 208–14.
Khor, H.T. and Chan, S.L. (1988) Changes in lipid classes and fatty acid composition in develo** seeds. Phytochemistry, 27 2041–4.
King, R. and Puwastein, P. (1987) Effects of germination on the proximate composition and nutrititional quality of winged bean seeds, J. Food Sci., 52, 106–8.
Kortt, A. (1980) Isolation and characterization of the trypsin inhibitors from winged bean seed (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC. Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 577, 371–82.
Kortt, A. (1983) Isolation and properties of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC). Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 624, 237–48.
NAS (1975) The Winged Bean: A High Protein Crop For The Tropics. National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC.
Pospisil, E., Karikari, S.K. and Boamati-Mensah, E. (1971) Investigations in winged bean in Ghana. World Crops, 23–260.
Pueppeke, S. (1979) Purification and characterization of a lectin from seeds of the winged bean, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 581,63–70.
Smith, O.B., Ilori, J.O. and Onesirosan, (1984) The proximate composition and nutritive value of the winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L) DC for broilers. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 11, 231–7.
Verdcourt, B. (1971) Psophocarpus, in Flora of Tropical East Africa. Published by Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Admistrations, London.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 E. Nwokolo and J. Smartt
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nwokolo, E. (1996). Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus(L.) DC.). In: Nwokolo, E., Smartt, J. (eds) Food and Feed from Legumes and Oilseeds. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0433-3_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0433-3_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8050-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0433-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive