Fresh Bean Pods Research Articles

Biofortification of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with iodine in a plant-calcareous sandy soil system irrigated with water containing KI

Uptake and translocation of iodine by green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were investigated in a calcareous sandy soil-plant system. These plants were cultivated in calcareous sandy soil in presence of irrigation water with the iodine concentrations of 0.10, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/L. The growth of these plants was stimulated at the two lower iodine concentrations of 0.10 and 0.25 mg/L, but hampered at 0.50 mg/L. In lettuce the highest iodine dosage resulted in smaller leaf surface and higher number of leaves, nearly with the same biomass production. In the edible parts of green bean and lettuce plants irrigated with 0.25 mg/L iodine containing water, the iodine concentration levels amounted to 0.6 and 5.2 mg/kg dry weight (DW), respectively. In lettuce, the uptake and translocation of selected essential elements (P, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, B) were also stimulated (20-260%) by iodine treatment; however, in fresh bean pods this phenomenon was negligible. Considering the iodine level and moisture content of the fresh lettuce leaves and fresh bean pods, the consumption of 100 g fresh vegetable covers about 66%, 3% of the recommended dietary allowance (150 μg).

Insecticidal effect of volatile compounds from fresh plant materials of Tephrosia vogelii against Solenopsis invicta workers

The effect of volatile compounds from the mashed fresh bean pods (B) as well as the branches and leaves (L) of Tephrosia vogelii on the behavior of Solenopsis invicta workers was investigated by fumigation toxicity bioassay. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify and quantify the volatile compounds. α-pinene, thujene, caryophyllene, and d-limonene were identified as major components of the volatile compounds, which were found toxic to workers when applied by fumigation. Responses varied according to worker size, exposure time, and plant material. An increase in exposure time from 1h to 12h led to increases in mortality from 18.33% to 100.00% (B) and 13.33% to 100.00% (L) in minor workers as well as increases from 1.67% to 95.00% (B) and 15.00% to 98.33% (L) in major workers. The volatile compounds were also found to exert a behavioral effect against S. invicta in an A4 paper test. Walking and grasping abilities decreased at exposure times ranging from 40 min to 280 min. These findings suggest that the volatile compounds of T. vogelii can be used to control S. invicta.

Effect of preliminary and culinary processing on amino acid content and protein quality in frozen French beans

SummaryThe aim of the study was to evaluate the content of amino acids and protein quality of French bean pods. The investigated material consisted of the raw vegetable, fresh pods cooked to consumption consistency, and two kinds of frozen products stored for 12 months at −20 °C and then prepared for consumption: frozen beans obtained using the traditional method (blanching before freezing) and frozen products of the ready‐to‐eat type (cooking before freezing). A comparison of the amino acid content in the product prepared for consumption showed that the lowest quantities were found in French beans obtained using the traditional method; products obtained using the modified technology and beans cooked directly after harvest had similar levels of most amino acids. The content of amino acids in 16 g N was less varied than in 100 g of the product. The protein in all the three products prepared for consumption as well as that in fresh bean pods hardly differs, as confirmed by the values in the essential amino acid index (EAA). The first limiting amino acid was methionine with cystine and the second was lysine.

636 PB337 POLYGALACTURONASE INHIBITOR IN BEAN PODS

Polygalacturonase inhibitors have been reported in a number of dicotyledonous plant tissues including pear and raspberry fruits and bean seedlings. These proteins inhibit fungal polygalacturonases and thus have been implicated in disease resistance in plants. The earlier work on the inhibitor from bean plants was conducted with hypocotyls as the source. We have found that immature bean pods contain much more inhibitor than other parts of the plant and developed a procedure for purification of this inhibitor. Fresh bean pods were extracted with 1.0 M NaCl at pH 7 and the proteins were precipitated with ammonium sulfate. The proteins were dissolved, dialyzed and chromatographed on a column of S-Sepharose. The inhibitor from this step was then chromatographed on a Mono Q column at high pH. Yields of the inhibitor varied somewhat with bean cultivar and pod maturity but were about ten times higher than from hypocotyls. The purified inhibitor reacted optimally with Aspergillus niger endopolygalacturonase at pH 4.3 and appeared to be similar to the inhibitor from hypocotyls. Bean pods thus are a convenient source of polygalacturonase inhibitor for studies on fruit maturation and disease resistance in plants.