Morama bean protein

A significantly higher amoimt of protein is found in beans from South Africa compared to beans from Botswana. The amount of protein in beans from Namibia is between the contents from the two other countries (Holse et al., 2010). The variation in protein content might be due to different concentration of nitrogen in the soils. Bower et al. (1988) found that globulins are the most abimdant (53%) protein constituents in morama beans. The beans furthermore consist of albumins (23.3%), prolamins (15.5%), alkali soluble glutelins (7.7%), and acid-soluble glutelins (0.5%). 

Wehmeyer et al. (1969), Bower et al. (1988), and Amarteifio and Moholo (1998) reported the content of carbohydrate to be 23%, 24%, and 19%, respectively. These values have been obtained indirectly as the difference between 100% and the content of proteins, lipids, and minerals. Holse et al. (2010) found that the content of carbohydrate was dominated by total dietary fiber as it varied between 18.7% and 26.8% dm (Table 5.2). The majority of the dietary fiber is insoluble as only about 4% of the dietary fibers are soluble. Comparing the content of total dietary fiber of morama bean with the content of peanut (9% dm) and soybean (10% dm) (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2007), it appears that the morama bean has a considerably higher level of indigestible carbohydrates. Holse et al. (2010) also reported a very low starch content, which is in contrast to other legumes, in which starch is usually the most abundant carbohydrate... 

FIGURE 5.6 Physico-chemical and protein-related functional properties of defatted morama bean flours and their potential applications in food systems (adapted from Maruatona, 2008). 

An analysis of competing products and potential substitutes revealed that morama products will potentially compete with a number of other, well-established products and brands that are already commercialized. These include soy-based products such as soy milk, soybean oil, and high protein soy flour. The direct implication of this is that for morama bean products to compete on price directly with the competing products, it will need to do so based on the health benefits or other novelty value identified by the current Marama II FP-6 project consortium. Without these, it may prove to be very challenging to the feasibility of these products. 

---