title: Nutritional quality of some improved cultivars of cowpea.
abstract: The seeds of 13 improved cowpea cultivars were analysed for proximate composition, methionine, tryptophan and polyphenols. Considerable genetic variations were observed for the contents of protein, nonprotein nitrogen, limiting amino acids and polyphenols. The globulins contributed about 50% of the total seed proteins. A significant proportion of proteins of high protein cultivars was found to be insoluble. The proteins of most of the cultivars were found deficient in methionine and tryptophan. Methionine and tryptophan levels were negatively correlated with protein and positively correlated with carbohydrate contents. The cultivars with colored seed coats contained higher amounts of polyphenols. The difference in polyphenol content between various cultivars were due to seed coat polyphenols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, India.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kachare
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chavan
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kadam
mesh_terms: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000032:analysis*; D005419:Flavonoids; D008715:Methionine / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis; D059808:Polyphenols; D012995:Solubility; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D059808:Polyphenols; D014364:Tryptophan; D008715:Methionine