The well-known bean is a typical plant from the legume family. This genus of plants was brought to us from the countries of South America after the discovery of the continent by Columbus. From the article you will learn how bean seeds are formed, about their structure, composition and calorie content.

How are haricot seeds formed?

The seeds of this bean plant appear as a result of fertilization of the flower by pollination, the formation of an ovary from the bottom of the pestle. In beans, this occurs by self-pollination; occasionally, cross-pollination occurs with the help of insects. Each flower blooms for 2-3 days, the brush - 10-14 days. Flowering of one plant lasts up to 25 days.In a vegetable crop with repeated harvesting of young shoulder blades, the flowering time of climbing varieties can range from 30 to 100 days. The common bean pollen ripens in an unopened flower, and the crop self-pollinates a few hours before the petals open. In each bivalve pod of common beans (the most common type), 2 to 8 seeds are formed.

Did you know? Cross-pollinated most of the flowers of the multiflowered species. This species is also called Turkish beans. It blooms beautifully and is often used as an ornamental plant. Only young beans are suitable for food.

Description of seeds and their meaning

Bean seeds are typical of an angiosperms dicotyledonous plant. They have the shape of beans with convex and concave sides. The concave part has a noticeable scar - the place of attachment of the placenta, connecting with the pericarp. Next to it there is a shallow hole - the vas deferens (micropile), through which moisture and air penetrate inside. Color depends on varietal or species characteristics and can be white, brown, purple and other tones.They can be not only monophonic, but also speckled, mosaic, spotty. Bean seeds, in fact, are the rudiment of a young plant, protected by a seed peel, with a supply of food for the first time of development. Nutrients are found in the endosperm.

Did you know? The largest seeds are formed by a fan palm - it is a 25-pound nut. It sprouts for three whole years.

Embryo

When removing the peel from the bean, you can see the embryo. It is located next to the micropile, and is the basis of the future young plant. According to the scheme, in its structure, the stalk, kidney, cotyledons and germinal root are distinguished, the same parts as in an adult plant.

Germinal root

The root of the embryo is the germ of the future root system. It is subsequently formed into the main (core) root of the plant. It is closest to the ejaculation and is the first to get out. The root of the seedling is fixed in the soil, begins the extraction of water and nutrition.

Cotyledons

Beans are a dicotyledonous plant. This means that her embryo has two opposite lateral cotyledons. In this genus of plants, they are thick and fleshy. This is the first embryonic pair of leaves of the future plant. They contain a lot of nutrients for the sprout taken from the endosperm. Also, the leaves protect the kidney, which is important when punching a sprout through the soil crust. When the sprout gains strength, the cotyledons will dry, after giving it back the accumulated nutrients.

Important! Beans should not be consumed by older people, as well as with problems with the gastrointestinal tract (high acidity, peptic ulcer, gastritis), with gout, cholecystitis and pancreatic diseases.

What is needed for germination of the embryo?

All that is needed for germination is heat, moisture, air and light. Beans need a lot of moisture when germinating (100-120%). The minimum temperature for germination of bean seeds is + 8 ... + 10 ° С. The higher the temperature, the faster the shoots appear. The optimum temperature is +20 ... + 22 ° C. At the best temperature conditions, seedlings appear on the 6-8th day. They can die during cooling down to –0.5 ... + 1 ° С.The seed should not be completely submerged in water or in too dense soil, otherwise there will be no air intake. With a lack of light, the sprout will be stunted and pale, and eventually die. Seeds damaged by pests and diseases that have expired will not sprout. The shelf life of the seeds of this culture is 5–7 years. The best water for germinating seeds is thawed.

Chemical composition and calorie content

Beans are a valuable source of nutrition.

100 g contains about 298 kcal, as well as:

• carbohydrates 47 g;
• proteins 21 g;
• fat 2 g;
• dietary fiber 12.4 g;
• water 14 g;
• ash 3.6 g.

Vitamins:

• PP - 6.4 mg;
• niacin - 2.1 mg;
• B5 - 1.2 mg;
• B6 - 0.9 mg;
• E - 0.6 mg;
• B1 - 0.5 mg;
• B2 - 0.18 mg;
• B9 - 0.09 mg.

Minerals:

• potassium 1,100 g;
• phosphorus 480 mg;
• sulfur 159 mg;
• calcium 150 mg;
• magnesium 103 mg;
• silicon 92 mg;
• sodium 40 mg;
• chlorine 58 mg;
• iron 5.9 mg;
• manganese 1.34 mg;
• zinc 3.21 mg;
• aluminum 0.64 mg;
• copper 0.58 mg;
• boron 0.49 mg;
• vanadium 0.19 mg;
• nickel 0.1732 mg;
• titanium 0.15 mg;
• fluorine 44 mcg;
• molybdenum 39.4 mcg;
• selenium 24.9 mcg;
• cobalt 18.7 mcg;
• iodine 12.1 mcg;
• chromium 10 mcg.

Since there are a lot of B vitamins in the beans, especially folates, this is important for dietary nutrition and proper formation of the fetus in pregnant women. These beans contain 12 essential amino acids and 8 essential ones. Cooked grains, depending on the variety, already contain 118–147 kcal. With a diet with regular consumption of this bean, cholesterol levels decrease, sugar levels, pressure normalize, nerves calm down, bones are strengthened and energy is increased. Bean seed contains the germ of the future plant and will germinate under suitable conditions. It has great nutritional value.