Alternative Sources of Plant Protein in Tropics and Subtropics: The Case Study of India

Karolína Jarošová

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

The thesis focused on collecting and examining data on protein-rich plants indigenous to India that have the potential to improve food security in the country. The concept of neglected and underutilised plant species was characterised and the need for further research on these species and their importance to Indian agriculture and food security was substantiated. The different processing methods used in these plants were characterized and described in terms of influence on sensory and nutritional properties. More attention was given to their effect on proteins. Plant species falling under specified categories were then arranged in a clear table giving basic information about the plant in terms of botanical systematics, the protein content of the different edible plant parts, the most commonly known processing and the way of consumption of these parts. The 60 plants listed in the table belong total of 26 different families: the most frequented were Fabaceae (28.3 %), Cucurbitaceae (11.7 %), Poaceae (6.7 %) and Solanaceae (6.7 %). Four species, namely Moringa oleiflera Lam., Bauhinia purpurea (L.), Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.), Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir. were selected on the basis of protein content (greater than 35 g/100 g in at least one of the edible parts) and their potential for further use. These species were then described in more detail. Additionally, information on processing was evaluated based on frequency; 48.4 % of the plants were consumed only after thermal processing, and 51.6 % of plants can be consumed in both forms, thermally processed or unprocessed. Thermal treatment of plants was mostly carried out by blanching, frying, drying and roasting.

Keywords

plant-based, protein, nutrition, neglected, underutilised, a crop of the future, Asian countries, India, food security

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 15. 4. 2022

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: Ing. Iva Kučerová, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Bakalářský studijní program:
Tropické zemědělství