Physicochemical Characteristics of 18 Cultivars of Nigerian Cowpeas (V. uniguiculafa) and Their Cooking Properties

Eighteen cultivars of cowpeas (V. unguiculata) were analyzed for cooking time, swelling capacity, leached solid, percent seed coat, seed density, amylose, tannins, proteins, and soluble sugars. The physicochemical characteristics varied with the seed coat color, the hilum color, and the skin texture. The cooking time was positively correlated to protein, seed density, percent seed coat, swelling capacity and leached solids, and negatively correlated to the levels of amylose, soluble sugars and tannins. There were significant correlations (p < 0.05) between sugars and swelling capacity, protein and seed density; and seed density and swelling capacity. The mean percent seed coat was significantly different (p < 0.05) between the varieties with wrinkled seed coats and those with smooth seed coats.