Vulgaris Bean Research Articles

A semiochemical view of the ecology of the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae).

The dried bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus, is an economically important pest of stored legumes worldwide. Tracking the human-aided dispersion of its primary hosts, the Phaseolus vulgaris beans, it is now widespread in most bean-growing areas of the tropics and subtropics. In temperate regions where it can only occasionally overwinter in the field, A. obtectus proliferates in granaries, having multiple generations a year. Despite its negative impact on food production, no sensitive detection or monitoring tools exist, and the reduction of local populations still relies primarily on inorganic insecticides as fumigating agents. However, in the quest to produce more nutritious food more sustainably and healthily, the development of environmentally benign crop protection methods is vital against A. obtectus. For this, knowledge of the biology and chemistry of both the host plant and its herbivore will underpin the development of, among others, chemical ecology-based approaches to form an essential part of the toolkit of integrated bruchid management. We review the semiochemistry of the mate- and host-finding behaviour of A. obtectus and provide new information about the effect of seed chemistry on the sensory and behavioural ecology of host acceptance and larval development.

Rhizobium tropici and Riboflavin Amendment Condition Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Colonization in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae) forms symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia (NFB). The tripartite relationship uses molecular singals to establish intracellular symbioses in roots. The goal of this study was to determine if Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899 and exogenous riboflavin (vitamin B2) have an effect on AMF species selection and root colonization of P. vulgaris. Using SSU rRNA fragment amplification of DNA extracted from P. vulgaris roots, we found that the presence of R. tropici altered the relative distribution of AMF species. Dominikia bernensis (Ohel) was the most abundant AMF species in P. vulgaris roots but when R. tropici was co-inoculated, Glomus species dominated. Rhizobacteria such as R. tropici, secrete riboflavin and could affect AMF symbiosis. Addition of 50 μM riboflavin to P. vulgaris, increased plant growth (28%), dry nodule weight (18%), AMF colonization (248%) and mycorrhizal vesicle frequency (56%) in bean roots. 3.12 and 12.5 µM riboflavin favored the presence of Glomus macrocarpum in P. vulgaris roots. This work provides the basis to further study of rhizobial and mycorrhizal co-inoculation of Phaseolus vulgaris bean.

Spores of Trichoderma Strains over P. vulgaris Beans: Direct Effect on Insect Attacks and Indirect Effect on Agronomic Parameters.

Acanthoscelides obtectus is an insect pest that attacks wild and cultivated common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L). Four Trichoderma strains, the T. arundinaceum IBT 40837 wild-type strain (=Ta37), a producer of trichothecene harzianum A (HA), two transformants of T. arundinaceum strain, Ta37-17.139 (=Δtri17) and Ta37-23.74 (=Δtri23), and the T. brevicompactum IBT 40841 wild-type strain (=Tb41), which produces the trichothecene trichodermin, were assessed to establish their direct effect on insect attacks and their indirect effect on the plants grown from the beans treated with those fungal strains and exposed to insect attacks. Treatments of bean seeds with different Trichoderma strains led to different survival rates in the insects, and the Tb41 strain caused the lowest survival rate of all. An 86.10% of the insect cadavers (in contact with Δtri23) showed growth of this strain. This was the treatment that attracted the greatest number of insects. The daily emergence was reduced in beans treated with the Ta37, Tb41, and Δtri17 strains. The undamaged beans treated with Ta37 and Δtri23 showed a high capacity of germination (80.00% and 75.00%, respectively), whereas the Δtri17 and Tb41 treatments increased the capacity of germination in the damaged beans (66.67%). The undamaged beans treated with Δtri23 had the greatest dry weights for the aerial part (4.22 g) and root system in the plants (0.62 g). More studies on the mechanisms of insect control, plant growth promotion, and trichodermol and trichodermin production by Δtri23 and Tb41, respectively, should be explored in order to commercialize these fungal species on a large scale.

In vivo effect of orally given polyvinyl alcohol/starch nanocomposites containing bioactive peptides from Phaseolus vulgaris beans

In this study, a nanocomposite produced with a blend of polyvinyl alcohol and partially hydrolyzed starch from Solanum lycocarpum was used as a matrix to entrap natural bioactive peptides from Phaseolus vulgaris. The nanocomposites were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy. The nanocomposites were then orally administered to Wistar rats, and their absorption was determined using morphometric, histopathological, cytochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, and biochemical analysis. Results showed that despite some aggregates being formed, the nanocomposites efficiently entrapped the natural peptides, with a loading capacity of 303.62 mg (45.7%) and an entrapment efficiency of 85.3% (267.02 µmol). Histochemical and morphological analysis revealed the absence of tissue injury and cellular changes, indicating the absence of deleterious and toxic effects. Transmission electron microscopy showed the internalization of the nanocomposites in the enterocytes, and biochemical analysis indicated that natural peptides were absorbed reaching the bloodstream.

Germination and Agronomic Traits of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Beans Sprayed with Trichoderma Strains and Attacked by Acanthoscelides obtectus

Acanthoscelides obtectus, one of the world’s most important post-harvest pests, attacks wild and cultivated common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Four Trichoderma strains, Trichoderma arundinaceum IBT 40,837 (=Ta37), a wild-type strain producer of trichothecene harzianum A (HA); two transformed strains of Ta37, Ta37-17.139 (Δtri17) and Ta37-23.74 (Δtri23); and T. brevicompactum IBT 40,841 (=Tb41), a wild-type strain producer of the trichothecene trichodermin, were evaluated to determine the effect of these compounds on the virulence of A. obtectus and the effect of these strains on the seed’s capacity of germination and on the agronomic traits of the plants grown from these seeds. Treatments of bean seeds with different Trichoderma strains provided varying survival rates in A. obtectus adults, so life survival of insects after Tb41 strain application was reduced to 15 days. Δtri17 and Tb41 strains sprayed on P. vulgaris beans resulted in low weight losses (1.21 and 1.55%, respectively). In spite of the low germination percentage of beans treated with Δtri23 strain (lower than the germination percentages of the rest of the fungal strains applied), this treatment encouraged a greater Wet Weight of Aerial Part of the plants grown from both damaged and undamaged beans. High germination rates of Ta37 and Δtri17 strains (higher than with the rest of treatments), did not turn into a greater Wet Weight Aerial Part and Wet Weight of Root System in the future plants developed. Linear regression between the number of exit holes and the wet weight aerial part on the one hand, and between the number of exit holes and the wet weight root system on the other, showed interaction, so Δtri23 and Tb41 strains behaved differently in comparison to their respective control treatments. The number of exit holes of beans treated with Δtri23 or Tb41 was negatively correlated with both the wet weight aerial part and the wet weight root system in P. vulgaris plants. Δtri23 sprayed on undamaged beans caused the greatest Wet Weight Aerial Part and wet weight root system in plants. Due to the good results obtained by Δtri23 and Tb41 strains in this work, more studies for A. obtectus control, P. vulgaris plant growth and trichothecenes production by these strains should be explored, in order to advance in the knowledge of how these fungi could be used in the field crop, together with the application of management strategies to mitigate risks for farmers and to minimize environmental contamination.

Perspectives on protein biopolymers: miniaturized flow field-flow fractionation-assisted characterization of a single-cysteine mutated phaseolin expressed in transplastomic tobacco plants

The development of plant-based protein polymers to employ in biofilm production represents the promising intersection between material science and sustainability, and allows to obtain biodegradable materials that also possess excellent physicochemical properties. A possible candidate for protein biopolymer production is phaseolin, a storage protein highly abundant in P Vulgaris beans. We previously showed that transformed tobacco chloroplasts could be employed to express a mutated phaseolin carrying a signal peptide (directing it into the thylakoids) also enriched of a cysteine residue added to its C-terminal region. This modification allows for the formation of inter-chain disulfide bonds, as we previously demonstrated, and should promote polymerization.To verify the effect of the peptide modification and to quantify polymer formation, we employed hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation coupled to UV and multi-angle laser scattering detection (HF5-UV-MALS): HF5 allows for the selective size-based separation of phaseolin species, whereas MALS calculates molar mass and conformation state of each population. With the use of two different HF5 separation methods we first observed the native state of P.Vulgaris phaseolin, mainly assembled into trimers, and compared it to mutated phaseolin (P*) which instead resulted highly aggregated. Then we further characterized P* using a second separation method, discriminating between two and distinct high-molecular weight (HMW) species, one averaging 0.8 × 106 Da and the second reaching the tens of million Da. Insight on the conformation of these HMW species was offered from their conformation plots, which confirmed the positive impact of the Cys modification on polymerization.

Physicochemical properties and rheological behavior of flours and starches from four bean varieties for gluten-free pasta formulation

Abstract The rheological behavior of gluten-free flour dispersions from four pulse market classes, including great northern, navy, red kidney (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and garbanzo beans (Cicer arietinum) were evaluated and compared to soft wheat as a gluten-containing control. Their starches were isolated and the relationships between flour behavior and starch characteristics were studied. Soft wheat (56%) and garbanzo (39%) flours presented higher starch contents than the Phaseolus vulgaris beans (33–35%), which resulted in the development of stronger gel network structures. It was found that starch amylose content and granule size affected the swelling and pasting properties of both starches and flours. Rheology tests suggested that garbanzo and navy bean flours developed the strongest structures among the gluten-free samples included. Therefore these were chosen to develop gluten-free pasta. The cooking and texture parameters of these pastas were also studied and compared with soft wheat pasta.

Host shift induces changes in mate choice of the seed predator Acanthoscelides obtectus via altered chemical signalling.

The mechanisms of host shift in phytophagous insects are poorly understood. Among the many proposed processes involved, sexual selection via semiochemicals has recently been suggested. This hypothesizes that sexual communication using pheromones is modified as a result of development on a new host, and such plant-induced phenotypic divergence in mate recognition cues can lead to reproductive isolation between host lines. We tested this hypothesis on Acanthoscelides obtectus, an oligophagous bruchid of Phaseolus vulgaris beans worldwide, which also develops in acceptable non-hosts, such as chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Male sex pheromone blends of the bean, chickpea and chickpea/bean host lines during artificially induced host shifts showed different composition. Bean-reared females did not distinguish between blends, whereas chickpea and chickpea/bean females preferred the chickpea male pheromone. However, electrophysiological (EAG) responses to male odour of antennae of the three female host lines were similar, all preferring bean-reared males. Egg-laying choice tests revealed a uniform preference for bean seeds across female host lines, even after multiple generations, whereas larvae did not distinguish between bean and chickpea seeds. We conclude that the development of divergent chemical signalling systems during host shifts does not facilitate the evolution of host races in A. obtectus, because oviposition preferences remain unaffected.

Tenderizing property of Allium cepa and its effects on the proximate composition of Phaseolus vulgaris beans stew

The present study sought to investigate the tenderizing property of Allium cepa Onions and its tendency to alter the proximate composition of Phaseolus vulgaris beans stew Five hundred grams g of beans sample was cooked with and g of A cepa after which twenty one persons evaluated the texture of the cooked whole beans using their thumb and index finger and thereafter rated the degree of tenderness of each samples in comparison with the control sample Proximate analysis was carried out on each of the samples before and after cooking The data was analysed using Pearson chi ndash square tests and analyses of variance The results showed that g and g of A cepa caused significant p lt tenderization of P Vulgaris beans Furthermore A cepa caused increases in the moisture ndash ash ndash fibre ndash fat ndash protein ndash and carbohydrate ndash contents of P vulgaris beans after cooking The study showed that cooking g of P vulgaris beans with A cepa gt g caused significant p lt tenderization as well as altered the proximate composition of the beans

Phaseolus vulgaris lectins: A systematic review of characteristics and health implications

ABSTRACTLegume lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin. Significant amounts of lectins have been found in Phaseolus vulgaris beans as far back as in the last century; however, many questions about their potential biological roles still remain obscure. Studies have shown that lectins are anti-nutritional factors that can cause intestinal disorders. Owing to their ability to act as toxic allergens and hemagglutinins, the Phaseolus vulgaris lectins are of grave concern for human health and safety. Nonetheless, their potential beneficial health effects, such as anti-cancer, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), anti-microbial infection, preventing mucosal atrophy, reducing type 2 diabetes and obesity, promoting nutrients absorption and targeting drugs, are of immense interest. The significance of Phaseolus vulgaris lectins in biological researches and the potential biomedical applications have placed tremendous emphasis on the development of purification strategies to obtain the protein in pure and stable forms. These purification strategies entail considerations such as effects of proteolysis, heating, gamma radiation, and high-hydrostatic-pressure that can have crucial outcomes in either eliminating or improving bioactivities of the lectins. Thus, up-to-date research findings of Phaseolus vulgaris lectins on different aspects such as anti-nutritional and health impacts, purification strategies and novel processing trends, are systematically reviewed.

Protective effects of Phaseolus vulgaris lectin against viral infection in Drosophila.

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) isolated from the family of Phaseolus vulgaris beans is a promising agent against viral infection; however, it has not yet been demonstrated in vivo. We herein investigated this issue using Drosophila as a host. Adult flies were fed lectin approximately 12 h before they were subjected to a systemic viral infection. After a fatal infection with Drosophila C virus, death was delayed and survival was longer in flies fed PHA-P, a mixture of L4, L3E1, and L2E2, than in control unfed flies. We then examined PHA-L4, anticipating subunit L as the active form, and confirmed the protective effects of this lectin at markedly lower concentrations than PHA-P. In both experiments, lectin feeding reduced the viral load prior to the onset of fly death. Furthermore, we found a dramatic increase in the levels of the mRNAs of phagocytosis receptors in flies after feeding with PHA-L4 while a change in the levels of the mRNAs of antimicrobial peptides was marginal. We concluded that P. vulgaris PHA protects Drosophila against viral infection by augmenting the level of host immunity.

Phaseolus from Cerén—A Late Classic Maya Site

Archaeological investigations at Ceren, a well–preserved Classic period Maya site in El Salvador, have recovered an abundance of carbonized bean remains, both Phaseolus vulgaris and P. lunatus. Surprisingly, the Ceren P. vulgaris bean remains were derived from both wild and domesticated populations. This find reveals that the Late Classic inhabitants continued to draw upon wild food sources even though they had clear access to a full array of domesticated food crops. This discovery not only offers insights into human behavior patterns of the past, but also has implications for the genetic interchange between wild types and cultivars. This potential genetic proximity helps to explain the multiple origins of Phaseolus domestication and the proliferation of its varieties.

Comparison of the alpha-amylase inhibitor-1 from common beans and transgenic pea expressing the bean alpha-amylase inhibitor-1 by means of LC–TOF–MS

Recently, more attention is given to legume seed derived alpha amylase inhibitors (αAI) as it seems they effectively can be applied in crop protection against attack by insect larvae and prevention of obesity, weight control or diabetes type 2 diseases. Several researches have described the structure-function relationship of bean αAI-1. Some heterogeneous structural variations were revealed in their biologically active α− and β-chains due to the different amino acid composition and glycan patterns. However, further accumulation of the data is still required for the variability assessment of the bean αAIs and its transgenic expression.Five Phaseolus vulgaris bean varieties (Tendergreen, Huanita Dry, Bush, Red- Kidney and Pinto beans) derived αAI-1 and a genetically modified pea derived αAI-1 were investigated for comparison of their polypeptides, molecular weight, isoelectric points and their antigenicity. Differences were found in isoelectric points of the αAI-1's obtained from the P. vulgaris varieties and from the genetically modified pea using SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Our data showed that the processed forms of αAI-1s were characterized as isoproteins at two isoelectric point values. Antibodies against Tendergreen bean αAI-1 developed in rabbit recognized all the investigated αAI-1s in immunoblotting. Mass-spectrometry was used to assess the presence of tryptic digested peptides including two peptide markers (AFYSAPIQIR for the α-chain, and SAVGLDFVLVPVQPESK for the β-chain) in the αAI-1s after 2-DE separation. Differences were observed in the presence of α-and β-chain peptides in the different αAI-1s.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory properties of Phaseolus vulgaris bean hydrolysates: Effects of different thermal and enzymatic digestion treatments

ACE inhibitory activity was investigated for protein hydrolysates derived from protein isolates of three Phaseolus vulgaris varieties, namely, navy bean, black bean and small red bean. Hydrolysis was performed using sequential digestion of Alcalase/Flavourzyme (AF) or Alcalase/papain (AP). Samples of the protein isolates were heated prior to hydrolysis and the results (i.e., degree of hydrolysis (DH), electrophoresis profiles, and ACE inhibitory activities) were compared to unheated samples. For all varieties, significantly higher DH values (P<0.05) were obtained for the AF hydrolysates compared to the AP hydrolysates. Heat treatments improved the DH values of navy bean and small red bean, however, lower values were observed for the heated black bean samples. For all unheated samples, phaseolins were degraded slowly to fragments with an estimated molecular mass around 20–24kDa which were resistant to further AF or AP digestions. Extensive degradations were observed for heat-treated samples and phaseolins were hydrolyzed into smaller peptides at the initial stage of digestions. AP hydrolysates for all investigated varieties presented higher ACE inhibitory activity than the AF hydrolysates. The highest ACE inhibitory activities were obtained after 100min of AP digestion for heated samples from navy bean, and 95min of AP digestion for heated samples from both black and small red beans, which yielded an IC50 of 68±5μgprotein/ml, 83±13μgprotein/ml and 78±7μgprotein/ml, respectively. Stabilities of these hydrolysates were tested by simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion followed by ACE inhibition studies, and lower IC50 values were determined for all three hydrolysates.

Reducing effect of aPhaseolus vulgarisdry extract on operant self-administration of a chocolate-flavoured beverage in rats

Extracts from or derivatives of Phaseolus vulgaris beans reduce body weight and food intake, including highly palatable foods and fluids, in multiple rodent models of overeating and obesity. The present study was designed to assess whether a standardised P. vulgaris dry extract was effective in reducing also the operant self-administration of a chocolate-flavoured beverage. To this end, rats were initially trained to lever-press for a chocolate-flavoured beverage under a fixed ratio 10 schedule of reinforcement in daily 60 min sessions. Once lever-responding reached stable levels, the effect of a P. vulgaris dry extract on the number of lever-responses for the chocolate-flavoured beverage was determined. Pretreatment with 50, 200 and 500 mg (intragastric) P. vulgaris dry extract per kg produced an approximate 15, 35 and 40 % reduction, respectively, in lever-responding for the chocolate-flavoured beverage. These results indicate the capacity of a P. vulgaris preparation to reduce the reinforcing properties of a highly palatable fluid in rats.

Early detection of nutrient and biotic stress in Phaseolus vulgaris

Prerequisites for optimal, high crop yield are disease‐free growth and an equilibrated supply of nutrients. Early signatures of stress‐altered physiology, before appearance of symptoms in the visible spectrum, allow timely treatment. Early detection of stress development was carried out on phaseolus vulgaris bean infected with the agriculturally important grey mould pathogen and under conditions of magnesium deficiency, limiting photosynthesis. During stress development, bean plants were monitored by time‐lapse imaging with thermal, video and chlorophyll fluorescence cameras, mounted on a gantry robot system. For early detection of grey mould infection, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging proved to be the most sensitive. This technique detected magnesium deficiency at least three days before visual symptoms appeared. Further development of non‐contact technology for plant health monitoring will help to achieve optimal productivity in greenhouse and field cultures. Associated establishment of a stress catalogue based on early symptoms will allow swift diagnosis.

The yield and quality of fresh and ensiled plant material from intercropped maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

AbstractAn investigation was carried out in the UK to determine whether intercropping with Phaseolus vulgaris beans increases the yield and nutritional quality of maize forage. Fresh and dry yields arising from different sowing dates and different densities of the two species were evaluated, with total nitrogen concentration (TNC) of the plants, and crude protein concentration (CPC), dry matter, metabolizable energy (ME), pH and starch, lactic acid and ash contents of ensiled material. Highest biomass yields of intercrops were obtained when the two species were planted simultaneously. There was a higher TNC in intercropped maize plants than in maize plants grown without beans (P &lt; 0.05). Biomass yields were not significantly higher with a higher density of maize in the intercrop than with a lower density, nor were they higher with monocrop maize than with intercropping. However, the biomass had higher CPC at 75 000 maize plus 50 000 beans ha−1 and 50 000 maize plus 50 000 beans ha−1 than monocrop maize. Other nutritional characteristics of the silage made from the intercrop treatments were not significantly different from those of the silage made from monocrop maize. As the silage from intercrops of 75 000 maize plus 50 000 beans ha−1 and 50 000 maize plus 50 000 beans ha−1 gave more CP per land area than monocrop silage, and gave biomass yields that were not significantly different from monocrop maize, it was concluded that such intercropping is suitable for producing high‐quality silage under similar agro‐climatic conditions. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

Effect of the Extrusion on Functional Properties and Mineral Dialyzability from Phaseolus Vulgaris Bean Flour

The effects of extrusion conditions on cooking degree, flour dispersion viscosity and mineral potential availability of extruded bean flour were studied. Phaseolus vulgaris beans of the agronomic cultivar "Flor de mayo" were ground and dehulled to obtain grits and then extruded at different temperatures (140, 160 and 180 degrees C) and moisture contents (17, 20 and 23%), according to a bifactorial experimental design. Degree of cooking was estimated by water solubility (WS) and specific mechanical energy (SME). The effect of variables on WS and SME were analysed by surface response methodology. Flour dispersion viscosity and mineral availability (estimated by in vitro dialyzability), were also evaluated on selected samples. Results showed that, within the ranges of the variables used for this study, only the effect of temperature was significant on the degree of cooking. No direct correlation was observed between water solubility and SME, although a maximum value of WS corresponded to a range of SME values of 400-500 J/g was observed. Dispersion viscosity decreases as WS increases, so if high calorie density is desired, for instance in order to produce a cream soup formula, bean grits should be extruded at high temperature and as low moisture as possible, in our case 180 degrees C and 17% moisture. On the other hand, the effects of extrusion variables on iron and zinc dialyzability were not much affected.

Yield, yield components and plant architecture in the F3 generation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) derived from a cross between the determinate cultivar ‘Prelude’ and an indeterminate landrace

Growth trials were conducted outdoors in the UK to determine the yield, yield components and plant architectural differences between determinate and indeterminate Phaseolus vulgaris bean plants. F3 lines derived from crosses between ‘Prelude’, a determinate cultivar and ‘V8’, an indeterminate landrace, were grown together with the parents and ‘Carioca’, an indeterminate landrace from Brazil. Data were recorded on flowering date, number of nodes on main stem at flowering, plant height at maturity, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, number of seeds/plant, 100-seed weight, seed mass/plant, percentages of diseased and healthy seeds/plant. Determinate F3 lines had significantly lower (P < 0.05) seed mass/plant, fewer pods/plant, fewer seeds/pod, fewer seeds/plant, lower harvest index, shorter stems, earlier date of flowering, fewer nodes at flowering and fewer healthy seeds/plant than indeterminate F3 lines. However, determinate genotypes had significantly larger (P < 0.05) pods to accommodate their larger seeds compared with indeterminate lines. A similar situation was found when the yield and yield components of ‘V8’, ‘Prelude’ and ‘Carioca’ were evaluated; the highest seed mass/plant was given by ‘V8’ and the lowest by ‘Prelude’. Furthermore, some indeterminate genotypes with Type IV growth habit yielded significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the high-yielding parent, ‘V8’, indicating a positive influence on seed yield by crossing different genotypes.

Olive oil and phaseolus vulgaris beans and breast cancer – experimental study

Leguminous plants such as dry seeds of grain legumes, rich in vegetal protein had been associated with reduced risk of cancer. In this study we intended to establish the relationship between consumption of a diet with olive oil and another one with phaseolus vulgaris beans in the number and volume of breast cancer tumours. A total of 72 female rats with 50 days were used and divided in three groups. All animals were submitted to the administration of 20 mg of 7,12 dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) in olive oil, by gavages. The same defined standard food was provided for all animals, but supplemented with beans in group II (40 g of lyophilized beans/Kg ) and with olive oil in the group III (50 ml/Kg). Female rats were sacrificed in the end of 150 days. Neoplastic lesions were evaluated according to morphologic features described in rat mammary carcinomas. It was evaluated the pattern and nuclear grade, the number of mitosis, tumoral necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, general score and volume. A non-significant variation was observed in tumour score between animals, however tumours volume was significantly different between the groups two and three (p<0,05). Our results show that high olive oil diet provokes a superior number of carcinomas but with inferior volume than the other groups.