31 - Winged bean: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.

Abstract

Publisher Summary Winged bean or Goa bean, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. (2w = 2x = 18), is a twining perennial but is grown as an annual. Tropical southern Asia—Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Madagascar, and India—are the origin of the winged bean. It has been introduced to the Pacific islands and the West Indies. It is grown in Burma, India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Nigeria. The leaves, shoots, flowers, seeds, fruits, and tubers of the winged bean are all consumed and thus, the plant is described as a “supermarket on a stalk.” Mature seeds are the most nutritive part; they are consumed boiled, fried, or roasted and are used for milk and toffee preparation. Winged bean has several medicinal uses. Its pods are considered to be good for the blood and in diabetes mellitus. Psophocarpus has about nine species, of which P. tetragonolobus and P. palustris are used for food. Out of four wild species, three—P. palmetsorum (2x = 20), P. palustris Desv. (2x =18), and P. scandens (Endl.) Verde (syn. P. longipedunculatus Hassk.)—are cultivated in Africa. Plants are short day for flowering. They are propagated by seed, but stem-cutting under mist may also be used for propagation. There is a serious germination problem with winged bean seeds, but germination can be improved by scarification. There is a need to develop early, photoinsensitive varieties of winged bean that are free of antinutritional factors and are resistant to biotic and abiotic stress. These are the major objectives for the improvement of the crop. This chapter reviews the winged bean breeding and genetics with an emphasis on the emerging field of biotechnology.