Broadening the genetic base through enhancing the diversity of cultivars is the key to sustainable production of the lablab bean (Vaijayanthi and Ramesh 2019). Recognizing it, the present study documents hitherto undescribed and unreported landraces of the lablab bean.
Table 1
Morphological characteristics of pods of different landraces of the lablab bean (Lablab purpureus)
Land-race | Pod length | Pod width | No. of seeds per pod | Pod colour |
Mean (cm) | Standard deviation | Mean (cm) | Standard deviation |
DKP1 | 8.08 | 0.55 | 1.96 | 0.09 | 5 | Tea green |
DKP2 | 12.38 | 0.44 | 2.06 | 0.18 | 6 | Purple |
DKP3 | 20.10 | 1.26 | 2.02 | 0.16 | 6 | Forest green |
DKP4 | 16.94 | 1.19 | 4.12 | 0.54 | 7 | Kelly green |
DKP5 | 4.66 | 0.18 | 1.78 | 0.04 | 4 | Green |
DKP6 | 13.64 | 1.54 | 2.04 | 0.09 | 5 | Light green |
DKP7 | 7.28 | 0.32 | 1.76 | 0.11 | 4 | Purple |
DKP8 | 12.94 | 0.98 | 2.34 | 0.28 | 6 | Light green |
DKP9 | 15.74 | 1.18 | 2.00 | 0.14 | 6 | Banana yellow |
DKP10 | 11.42 | 0.37 | 2.62 | 0.26 | 6 | Light purple |
DKP11 | 4.98 | 0.60 | 1.56 | 0.23 | 3 | Green |
DKP12 | 13.84 | 1.05 | 2.20 | 0.20 | 5 | Light green |
DKP13 | 7.36 | 0.59 | 2.62 | 0.30 | 4 | Light purple |
DKP14 | 10.22 | 1.04 | 2.42 | 0.19 | 6 | Green |
The indigenous people of East Siang have carefully maintained varieties of Yoksik peron, which is extensively consumed locally. Based on the present survey, which also compiled information on its cultivation and usage, 14 types of the Yoksik peron were documented. These differed in many parameters; for example, the width of the pod ranged from 1.6 cm to 4.1cm and its length, from 4.7 cm to 20.1cm (Table 1); the pods also differed in colour, seed size, and shape. Of the types, Nos. DKP1, DKP 4, and DKP 6 (Fig. 2) were found in abundance and also fetched higher prices than other types in the local market of Pasighat. The indigenous people consume boiled tender podsor use the bean seeds in curries or cook the pods with fish as a side dish. Thus, in this area, the Yoksik peron is in greater demand as a pod, for use as a vegetable, than as seed, unlike in southern India, where both the forms are used. Further, it was clear from information gathered from local vendors and based on our field observations that most of the Yoksik peron in East Siang were climbers, grown mainly in the backyard or in kitchen gardens and not on a commercial scale, which indicates that these are of the indeterminate type. Seeds for the next season are traditionally harvested on new moon days, locally referred to as Amavasya, which is believed to protect the stored seed from pests and also to prolong seed viability. Indeed, elderly women of Adi tribe are considered to be ‘‘living encyclopedias’’ in biocultural knowledge systems. These women play a pivotal role in retaining and transmitting on biodiversity-related traditional knowledge to the next generations (Singh et al., 2013). The knowledge and practice of elderly women about habitats and multi-storey vegetations, multiplication methods, selective harvesting, and cultivation practices contribute significantly to food and livelihood security while sustaining an array of threatened plant species. The conservation of biodiversity including Yoksik peron occurs in three different habitats: jhum lands (shifting cultivation), Morang forest (community managed forests), and home gardens (Singh et al., 2013).
Table 2
Nutritional value of the lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) per 100 g of raw, mature seeds
Constituent | Nutrient value | Percentage of RDAa |
Energy | 344 kcal | 17% |
Carbohydrates | 60.74 g | 47% |
Protein | 23.90 g | 43% |
Total fat | 1.69 g | 8.5% |
Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
Dietary fibre | 25.6 g | 67% |
Vitamins |
Folates | 23 µg | 6% |
Niacin | 1.610 mg | 10% |
Pyridoxine | 0.155 mg | 12% |
Riboflavin | 0.136 mg | 10% |
Thiamin | 1.130 mg | 94% |
Vitamin A | 0 IU | 0% |
Electrolytes |
Sodium | 21 mg | 1.5% |
Potassium | 1235 mg | 26% |
Minerals |
Calcium | 130 mg | 13% |
Copper | 1.335 mg | 148% |
Iron | 5.10 mg | 64 % |
Magnesium | 283 mg | 71% |
Manganese | 1.573 mg | 68% |
Phosphorus | 0.372 mg | 53% |
Selenium | 8.2 µg | 15% |
Zinc | 9.30 mg | 84% |
arecommended dietary allowance |
Source: USDA National Nutrient database; https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/hyacinth-bean.html
Apart from the nutritional value of the bean (Table 2), a scooping review (Al-Snafi 2017) describes its value in pharmacology and its medicinal importance. Recent studies on the nutraceutical properties of the lablab bean confirm its value as a functional food, which could be used for the treatment of obesity and related diseases (Suh et al. 2017; Vidigal et al. 2018; Yin et al. 2018). Thus, apart from its nutty creamy taste, the bean, not only a source of calories and of proteins but also has other health benefits. The lablab bean, given its prolific yield, versatility, and adaptability to adverse and harsh conditions is undeniably one of the legumes for the future. Because of its phenomenal resilience to drought and salinity, it is also suitable for field production (Murphy and Colucci 1999; Jaleel. et al. 2009; D’Souza and Devaraj 2010; Devaraj and D’Souza 2016). The bean is well adapted to dry environments and copes with droughts by minimizing the loss of water by maintaining the right balance between vegetative and reproductive growth (Sennhenn et al. 2017; Naeem et al. 2020).
Market Potential
Although primarily cultivated for household consumption, of late, in villages like Balek, Bodak, Mirem, Rani, Ruksin and Taki Lalung, local people ventured its mass cultivation, after realizing its huge market demand. Like most of the less known crops and wild plants/ vegetables were sold in regular market of “ Pasighat” and “Ruksin” local markets directly by farmers (Fig. 1) as well as by a few permanent retailers in commercial markets. Interviews with the sellers/retailers revealed almost a threefold increase in price from 2017-18. The market rates for the pods/ seeds was INR 150–200/Kg. in market of Pasighat town, Arunachal Pradesh while, fresh pod sold at 50–75/Kg. The local types Yoksik peron with green colored pods were commonly available and fetched better price as compared to others. On an average, a farmer growing ten clumps in backyards earns INR 5000 per annum.