Microstructure of Nunas: Andean Popping Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.)

Authors

Stephen C. Spaeth
Daniel G. Debouck
Joseph Tohme
Janny van Beem

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

Nunas, popping beans (Phaseous vulgaris L.), burst and expand when heated rapidly. Differences in seed microstructure between popping and conventional (non-popping) bean genotypes conceivably contribute to popping in nunas However, the microstructural characteristics which contribute to the popping attribute and sites of expansion have not been identified. Seeds and excised cotyledons of unpopped and popped nunas were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Protoplasts of unpopped nunas were similar to protoplasts of conventional beans. Intercellular spaces of unpopped nunas were occluded by schizogenous cell walls. The occluded form of intercellular spaces differed distinctively from the open form in popped nunas and untreated conventional beans. The expansion of cotyledon mesophyll in popped nunas came primarily from expansion of cell walls and secondarily by expansion of the intercellular spaces. Cell wall thickness and dimensions of protoplasts were not changed during popping. Expansion of cell walls away from protoplasts created intracellular voids. SEM images indicated that starch granules (grains) in popped nunas were generally not altered by popping. Starch granules did not gelatinize or melt during popping as indicated by retention of birefringence. In contrast to popcorn (Zea mays L.), starch granules did not contribute to expansion of popped nuna cotyledons.

Recommended Citation

Spaeth, Stephen C.; Debouck, Daniel G.; Tohme, Joseph; and Beem, Janny van (1989) "Microstructure of Nunas: Andean Popping Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.)," Food Structure: Vol. 8: No. 2, Article 13.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/foodmicrostructure/vol8/iss2/13