ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to learn if there are physical, chemical and nutritional differences between vine and bush type of beans. Four samples of black color beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) of the vine type, and four of the bush type were collected from farmers in the same growing area. The samples were analyzad for some physical properties including, 100 seed weight, seze distributions, percent seed coat, water obsorption, cooking time, and of solids on cooking waters. Vine type beans had larger 100-seed weight, larger sized beans, thiker seed coats, and lower of solids in the cooking water than bush type beans. Rate of water absorption was diffeent. The chemical characterization included proximate analysis and fiber fractionation. Vine type beans had, on the average, less ether extract and protein than bush types. No differences were found in fiber fractions, although there was a higher variability in the vine types. Protein quality and protein digestibility when fed as the single protein source, were similar on the average, with more variability in the vine types. Both types, efficiently suppemented maize proteins and the protein digestibility was higher than when fed alone. In general there were no large differences, except in some physical measurements. between vine and bush type beans, with the former showing greater nutritional variability which could be useful in selection programs, if such variability is confirmed.