Proximate composition, histochemical analysis and microstructural localisation of nutrients in immature and mature seeds of marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) – an underutilised food legume

TY - JOUR

T1 - Proximate composition, histochemical analysis and microstructural localisation of nutrients in immature and mature seeds of marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) – an underutilised food legume

AU - Mosele, Minah Mmoni

AU - Hansen, Åse Solvej

AU - Hansen, Michael

AU - Schulz, Alexander

AU - Martens, Helle Juel

PY - 2011/8/15

Y1 - 2011/8/15

N2 - Marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) is a wild-growing legume adapted to semi-arid conditions in southern Africa. Both immature and mature seeds are used as food by locals and marama bean has potential as a crop plant. Physicochemical and histochemical methods were used to study the accumulation of nutrients and their localisation in immature and mature seeds. The immature seeds had a high content of moisture (67%) and protein (21%), and a low content of lipid (1.5%). At maturity, proteins formed spherical bodies that were embedded in a droplet lipid matrix. The mature seeds are exceptional as they have a high content of protein (32%) and lipid (40%) and no starch. Staining of polysaccharides indicated increases of pectin and cellulose during maturation, parallel with the general increase of cell wall thickness; however, lignin was absent. The content and distribution of protein, lipid and carbohydrates in immature and mature marama beans make this underutilised nutritive legume a prospective crop plant and interesting for food processing applications.

AB - Marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) is a wild-growing legume adapted to semi-arid conditions in southern Africa. Both immature and mature seeds are used as food by locals and marama bean has potential as a crop plant. Physicochemical and histochemical methods were used to study the accumulation of nutrients and their localisation in immature and mature seeds. The immature seeds had a high content of moisture (67%) and protein (21%), and a low content of lipid (1.5%). At maturity, proteins formed spherical bodies that were embedded in a droplet lipid matrix. The mature seeds are exceptional as they have a high content of protein (32%) and lipid (40%) and no starch. Staining of polysaccharides indicated increases of pectin and cellulose during maturation, parallel with the general increase of cell wall thickness; however, lignin was absent. The content and distribution of protein, lipid and carbohydrates in immature and mature marama beans make this underutilised nutritive legume a prospective crop plant and interesting for food processing applications.

U2 - 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.02.017

DO - 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.02.017

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0308-8146

VL - 127

SP - 1555

EP - 1561

JO - Food Chemistry

JF - Food Chemistry

IS - 4

ER -