Wing bean

This presentation is done by Export Agriculture students of 2010/11 batch of Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka as a requirement for the subject which is “Fruit & Vegetable Cultivation”. Note that the information included here is relevant to Sri Lankan condition

1. Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) 1 Export Agriculture

2. Common name : Winged bean Botanical name : Psophocarpus tetragonolobus Family : Leguminosae/ Fabaceae Other names : Goa bean Asparagus pea Four-angled bean Winged pea 2

3. Introduction Centre of origin : Madgascar or Mauritious A tropical plant Short day plant An edible vegetable / legume Almost every part of this unique plant is tasty and edible Typically grows as an annual/perennial vine Ultimate multi-purpose crop 3

4. Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Root   Seed Seedpod Stem    Edible Uses: Coffee Coloring Oil  Other Uses : Green manure Soil reclamation   Cover crops 4

5. Major growing areas grows abundantly in hot, humid equatorial countries Philippines Burma Thailand India Indonesia Sri Lanka Popular countries Mediterranean countries, Tropical Asia and South east Asian countries 5

6. Plant and Description Height : Height of the vines varies between 3 and 4 meters Bean pod : Pods have frilly borders 6 and 9 inches in length have 4 rows of wing type features 6

7. Seeds : burst out from ripe pods become brownish at the time of ripening beans are round in shape emits an aroma which is similar to asparagus 7

8. Flower : Light blue colored Hermaphrodite 8

9. Recommended Varieties Variety recommended & released officially by DOA:   SLS – 44 Varieties recommended but not yet released officially: UPS-122 SLS- 40 9

10. National average yield : 10 t/ha 10

11. Composition of Winged bean 11

12. Composition Parts of plant / 100 g Seeds Fresh pod Root Water (ml) 9.0 73.8 75.0 Calories 420.0 85.0 91.0 Protein (g)  31.8 8.3 2.3 Fat (g) 17.0 0.8 0.6 Carbohydrate (g) 33.0 12.3 20.0 12

13. Composition Parts of plant / 100 g Seeds Fresh pod Root Fiber (g) 6.6 - 1.5 Calcium (mg) 210.0 40.0 - Phosphorous (mg) 410.0 140.0 - Iron (mg) 15.0 2.3 - Vitamins - - - 13

14. Extent of cultivation Year Extent (ha) Maha     Yala    Total   1997 595 240 835 1998 772 505 1277 1999 772 505 1277 2000 585 522 1107 2001   614 556 1170 14

15. Soil & climatic Requirements Ideal growing temperature: 25 C Optimum Rain Fall: 1500-2000mm Elevation: sea level - 2000 m Soil types: sandy to heavy clays well-drained sandy loam, rich in organic matter is preferred 15

16. Management practices Land preparation Sowing Care Harvest Weed Control Irrigation Trellises 16

17. Land preparation Soil – plough to a depth of 30-40 cm & worked to a very fine tilth The purpose of land preparation to provide the necessary soil conditions which enhance the plant and root growth 17

18. Sowing Presoak the seeds for one to two days Change the water a couple of times If some seeds don't swell, nick them with a knife or sandpaper them at the distal end to breach the tough seed coat, and soak for another day 18

19. Spacing – at least 3.9 inches (10.0 cm) Depth – around 0.78 inches (2.0 cm) Grow the beans on a trellis oriented north/south for best sun exposure 19

20. Care: Pinch out the top of the main vine when it has produced 10-12 leaves to encourage side shoots Keep the beans well-watered Add a side dressing of 1 cup of high-nitrogen fertilizer per 10 square feet for higher yields 20

21. Harvesting: Pick the shoots and leaves while they are still tender Harvest the large, pale blue flowers for salad Green pods can be harvested from about 10 weeks after sowing 21

22. Weed Control: Weed control is necessary for the first 3-5 weeks Irrigation: Grow best under hot, wet conditions with 60 to 100 inches of rainfall or irrigation per year 22

23. Trellises: Support of the vine is essential for high seed production A trellis height of 2 m is optimal 23

24. Postharvest To keep them fresh, can store them in a plastic bag with its neck tightly tied Place it in the refrigerator for best results Temperature: 10°C Relative humidity: 90% Shelf life: 4 weeks 24

25. pests & diseases Free from major pest and diseases in Sri Lanka, but the following are prevalent Diseases  :  False rust Leaf spot Mosaic virus Witches broom 25

26. Pests :  Mites Aphids Leaf minor Flower borer Pod borer ( Heliothis ) Root knot nematode Pod borer ( Maruka ) 26

27. pros Tasty, mild flavored greens The ultimate multi-purpose crop for small farmers and gardeners in the tropics Leaves are high in superior quality protein Strong nitrogen fixing legume with unusual number of nodules 27

28. Tolerates heat Tolerates acid soil Apparently can utilize inexpensive readily available cowpea inoculant to begin nodulation when introduced to new areas   28

29. cons Very susceptible to water logging Very susceptible to frost and cold weather Seeds are difficult to germinate Most varieties have photoperiod sensitivities that limit the plant's success in many locations 29

30. Needs good drainage Needs lots of water 1500 mm for good growth 2500 mm or more for top production The 'wings' on fresh winged beans are very delicate makes them more difficult to handle and to ship than other fresh bean variety 30

31. Group Members W.S.P. Jayathilaka UWU/EAG/11/0021 H.K.I.J. Thilakarathne UWU/EAG/11/0022 31

32. Thank you 32