Variation in low molecular weight carbohydrate composition of Phaseolus vulgaris seeds

Abstract

Variations in the low M r, carbohydrate composition have been observed in wild forms of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris) seed. In four of 23 samples, verbascose content in the seeds was quite high and the ratio verbascose—stachyose was more than 1.0. This type of carbohydrate composition was named type A, and has a much higher verbascose content and lower galactinol and stachyose content than the rest of the wild forms, named type B. Although the total and individual carbohydrate content, with the exception of the verbascose content, of the cultivated forms of the common bean were higher than those of wild forms, the carbohydrate composition of the cultivated forms was essentially similar to type B of the wild forms. This carbohydrate composition was considered to be basic to the species.