Tetragonoloba Essay

Among all the beans grown in India, cluster bean (guar) [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is cultivated to a lesser extent. The research work done on different aspects of this crop is also meager. It is mainly grown for green vegetable, dry seeds and also as a forage crop.

1.1 Composition and uses

The green pods of cluster bean are as rich in food value as that of french bean

1.2 Composition of cluster bean green pod (per 100 g of edible portion)

S. No. Name of Mineral/Vitamin Quantity (g/mg/IU)

1. Moisture 81.0

2. Carbohydrates 10.8

3. Protein 3.2

4. Fat 0.4

5. Mineral 1.4

6. Thiamine 0.09

7. Riboflavin 0.09

8. Vitamin C 47

9. Vitamin A 316

Aykroyed, (1963)

1.3 Properties

Cluster bean has several health benefits in both vegetable

senegalensis which appear to be the ancestor of the C. tetragonoloba. The domestication process could have been taken place in the dry areas of the north western region of the Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent (Hymowitz, 1972). It was cultivated as a minor crop in India during ancient times as a vegetable and feed for cattle. Guar was introduced in USA in 1903 for experimentation in the southwest region where the climate is hot and has long growing seasons to suit its adaptation (Hymowitz and Matlock, 1963). The objective was to use cluster bean as a soil improving legume and forage for cattle. Before World War II the carob (locust bean) seed (ceratonia siliqua) from Mediterranean was used to extract carob gum for extensive use in paper industry. During World War II the supply of imported carob seed from the Mediterranean region was cut off, as a result search for domestic source of galactomanan gum was initiated in USA by Institute of Paper Chemistry. This study revealed guar as an alternative source for galactomanan (Anderson, 1949). Further, studies were done on milling the guar seeds for gum production and application in the manufacturing of paper revealed the beneficial effects of guar gum on paper processing. This information helped in the adoption of guar gum in the different manufacturing

The qualities of the crop like high adaptation towards erratic rainfall, multiple industrial uses and its importance in cropping system for factors such as soil enrichment properties, low input requirement, etc have made the guar one of the most significant crops for farmers in arid areas in India. Guar is a native to the Indian subcontinent. The crop is mainly grown in the dry habitats of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab and to limited extent in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The crop is also grown in other parts of the world, like, Australia, Brazil and South Africa. India is the largest producer of Guar and contributes 80 percent of total Guar production in the world. In India, Guar crop is cultivated mainly during Kharif season, with an annual production of around 2 million metric tons. Guar crop has experienced a remarkable journey from a traditional crop grown on marginal lands mainly for food, animal feed and fodder to a crop with various industrial usages. Guar gum is an important ingredient in producing food emulsifier, food additive, food thickener and other Guar gum products. The unique binding, thickening and emulsifying quality of guar gum powder obtained from guar seed has made it a much sought after product in international market. Guar is the source of a