COMPOSITION OF TEPARY BEAN (PHASEOLUS-ACUTIFOLIUS) OF THE SOUTHWESTERN US AND NORTHERN MEXICO

Fourteen samples of white (WT), brown (BT), speckled (ST), and black ( BKT) tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius) grown in the semiarid and ar id areas of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, were evaluated for their weight and sizes and analyzed for proximate composition, die tary fiber, trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), and phytic acid (PA). Se ed weight (0.105 g to 0.145 g) and size (7.1 x 5.0 mm to 9.3 x 6.4 mm) were not significantly different among WT, BT, ST and BKT. Protein (N x 6.25) and fat contents ranged from 17.3% to 23.1% and from 0.73% to 1.18%, respectively. No significant difference (P < 0.05) in protein and fat levels were observed among tepary types. Soluble, insoluble, a nd total dietary fiber were not significantly different. Total dietary fiber ranged from 17.97% to 20.96%. TIA (14.82 TIU to 24.58 TIU/mg sa mple) was not significantly different among raw tepary types. Autoclav ing for 10 min and 20 min reduced significantly TIA. PA content (1.83 mg to 5.34 mg PA/g sample) was not significantly different among tepar y types.