Potential of winged bean pods and their products in Papua New Guinea

Three winged bean varieties (UPS 31, 121 and 122) were grown in randomised blocks in the UPNG Agriculture Garden under two levels of nitrogren fertilizer and harvested at weekly intervals until maturity. While whole pods reached their maximum length, width and limit of suitability as a green vegetable by 21 days after anthesis, the crude fat, protein and fibre contents continued to increase further on a fresh weight basis with the ratio of pod case to seed fat and protein decreasing on a dry weight basis. The reverse was true when fibre was considered. There was a very small effect from increased N fertilizer level on fat, protein and fibre contents. There was little difference in nutrient content between varieties except that UPS 31 contained more fibre. UPS 122 showed the greatest pod length, number of seeds per pod and seed weight, followed by UPS 121, then UPS 31; the same order was apparent when ripe seed fat and protein yields were considered. The potential of winged bean as a vegetable, grain legume and oilseed crop is discussed in terms of projected commercial outlay and nutritional advantages.