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Questions and Answers
What is the main nutritional component found in dried legume seeds?
Which of the following plants is NOT classified as a legume?
What type of relationship exists between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria?
Which legume has been cultivated for at least 7,000 years?
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What is the structure of a fruit from a legume plant commonly called?
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What benefit do legumes provide to nitrogen-impoverished soils?
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Which legume is known for its potential to be eaten fresh as green or string beans?
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What percentage of dry weight do soybeans typically contain in protein?
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Which leguminous plant is known for its flower stalk elongating after pollination to push the fruit into the soil?
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Which of the following is NOT a purpose for which soybeans are used?
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Which crop is considered drought-tolerant and has numerous cultivars developed for cultivation?
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What is the primary use of carob pods?
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Fenugreek is primarily cultivated for which purpose?
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What is one of the characteristics of tropical pulses?
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Which of the following legumes is known to play a key role in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine for its use in hummus?
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What is the economic significance of soybeans globally?
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Which legume is primarily known for its use in making peanut butter and can be processed into various pastes and sauces?
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How are legumes generally utilized as fallow crops?
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What unique feature allows carob to be processed into a sweetmeat?
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Which of the following is true about liquorice?
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Study Notes
Legumes: The Fabaceae Family
- Legumes, also known as pulses, belong to the Fabaceae family.
- This family includes both herbaceous plants (peas, beans) and woody trees (acacia, tamarind).
- The fruit is a single-chambered pod with seeds attached along one edge.
- Legumes have both male and female reproductive parts in the same flower.
- Dried legume seeds are high in protein (25-30%), comparable to red meat.
- They are a crucial protein source, especially for vegetarians.
- Legumes contain all essential amino acids.
- Many legumes are important forage crops for livestock (clover, alfalfa).
- Legumes form root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium).
- These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrate for plants.
- This mutualistic relationship benefits both legumes and bacteria.
- Some nitrate leaks into the soil, enriching it with nitrogen.
Economically Important Legumes
- Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): Native to Central and South America, used fresh or dried. Contains about 20% protein.
- Pea (Pisum sativum): Cultivated for at least 7,000 years, native to the Mediterranean/Middle East. Seeds can be dried or eaten fresh. Contains about 25% protein.
- Soybean (Glycine max): Native to East Asia, the world's most important legume crop. Very high in protein (35-40%). Used in various food and industrial applications.
- Peanut (Arachis hypogaea): Native to Central and South America. The flower stalk elongates after pollination, pushing the fruit underground.
- Tropical Pulses: Important protein source in many tropical regions. Includes various species like lima beans, chickpeas, mung beans, black-eyed peas, pigeon peas, and lentils.
Other Important Legumes
- Carob (Ceratonia siliqua): Subtropical tree native to the Arabian Peninsula. Pods contain protein and sugar, used fresh or processed. Gum from seeds is a food stabilizer.
- Tamarind (Tamarindus indica): Large tree native to India. The sweet pulp around the seeds is used in tropical cuisines.
- Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum): Native to the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. Seeds are used medicinally and as a spice. Leaves are used as a vegetable.
- Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Native to the Mediterranean and central Asia, used for flavoring and as a sweetener.
Legumes as Forage Crops
- Several legume species are used as forage and fodder for animals.
- They improve soil nitrogen content when used as fallow crops in crop rotation.
- Examples include red clover, sweet clover, and alfalfa.
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Description
Explore the diverse characteristics and importance of legumes, a crucial member of the Fabaceae family. Learn about their nutritional benefits, unique reproductive structures, and their role in nitrogen fixation. This quiz will enhance your understanding of these economically and ecologically significant plants.
