SEED CHARACTERISTICS AND NUTRIENT AND

The physico-chemical characteristics of 12 accessions of Mucuna (velvetbean) seeds were investigated. The results showed 9.01-14.98 % hull, 0.71-0.97 and 1.11-2.37 g cm-3 bulk and true densities, respectively and 573.18-958.33 g 1000-grain weight and 65.00-173.60 kg hardness in horizontal position. M. rajada and M. veracruz (mottled) exhibited the minimum and maximum hardness, respectively. Low water absorption capacity (0.66-1.56 g H2O g-1) was observed. The varieties contained (g 100 g-1 DM) 24.50-29.79 protein, 4.72-7.28 fat, 3.19-4.16 ash, 59.20-64.88 carbohydrates, 3.65-4.43 crude fibre, 1.51-3.19 soluble sugars, 39.22-41.17 starch, as well as 16.64-17.17 kJ g-1gross energy; these values are comparable to those in commonly consumed legumes. Minerals included appreciable amounts of calcium (0.08-0.15 g 100 g-1), magnesium (0.16-0.20 g 100 g-1) and phosphorus (0.44-0.56 g 100 g-1). These results indicate that Mucuna has potential for exploitation as a food and feed. Antinutrient factors were low, except for (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-Dopa), trypsin inhibitors, and tannin. L-Dopa varied between 4.00 g 100 g-1 in M. rajada and 8.34 g 100 g-1 in M. veracruz (black), while trypsin inhibitory activity ranged from 30.81 in M. utilis to 51.55 TUI mg-1 in M. veracruz (mottled). Tannin content (1.56-1.70 g 100 g-1) varied little among the accessions. The results from this study suggest that chemical differences between Mucuna species are small, and when they exist, may be caused by seed coat. As population growth continues to deplete available food resources in Nigeria, Mucuna represents a potential food source, which could relieve critical food shortages if given adequate promotion and research attention