COMPARATIVE NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF UNINFESTED AND WEEVIL-INFESTED COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) IN IGBOORA
2nd Biennial Conference
Authors
Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the proximate composition (PC), some mineral element contents (MEC)
and some functional properties (FP) of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) sold and consumed in Igboora. Two portions
of cowpea samples (uninfected and weevil-infested) were powdered and analysed using standard analytical
techniques. The results showed that the uninfested sample and the weevil-infested sample had the following PC
(in %): Moisture contents, 11.34 and 9.37; protein, 20.44 and 15.43; ash contents, 3.36 and 2.99; crude fat, 1.67
and 0.99; crude fibre, 1.02 and 1.00 and carbohydrate contents, 62.34 and 70.23, respectively. The results for
MEC is as follows (in mg/kg): Ca, 19885 and 19836; Mg, 16133.5 and 16019; K, 49555.5 and 49333.5; Na,
40891.5 and 40425.5; Fe, 50.35 and 39.35; Zn,30.13 and 26.34; Cu, 0,06 and 0.04, and P, 1123.5 and 1033.5
for uninfested and weevil-infested samples respectively. The results also gave FP (in gmL-1) as follows: Water
absorption capacity, 1.31 and 1.23; loose bulk capacity, 0.71 and 0.51; packed bulk capacity, 0.91 and 0.62, and
oil absorption capacity, 1.33 and 0.88 for infested and weevil-infested sample respectively. This showed that
weevil infestation led to decrease in all the parameters considered and therefore, affected the quality of cowpea
negatively. It is recommended that cowpea should be properly stored to prevent infestation by weevils.
Keywords
Uninfested, weevil-infested, proximate composition, mineral element contents, functional properties
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