eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Food Science and Technology 2333-4835 2023-10-20 11 5 162 174 10.12691/ajfst-11-5-1 AJFST20231151 article Tchumou Messou tchumoumessou@gmail.com 1 Wohi Maniga 2 Oupoh Bada Bedos 3 Tano Kablan 3 Training and Resarch Unit of Agriculture, Halieutic Resources, Agro-industry, University of San-Pedro, BPV 1800, San-Pedro, Ivory Coast Department of Biochemistry-Genetics, Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University, Korhogo, Ivory Coast Training and Resarch Unit of Food Science and Technology, Nangui Abrogoua University, 02 BP: 801 Abidjan 02, Abidjan, Ivory Coast To enable growers and provide consumers with Phaseolus lunatus (L.) seeds of good nutritional quality, this study was carried out on Phaseolus lunatus seeds obtained from pods of white, red and black cultivars harvested at stage 1 (32 days), stage 2 (38 days), stage 3 (45 days) and stage 4 (52 days) after fertilisation. Weight of pods and seeds at harvest decreases from stage 1 to stage 4 of maturity. Major biochemical compounds such as crude protein, carbohydrates and lipids of seeds are highest at stage 4 (52 days) of maturity. Seeds of the black cultivar are richer in protein, with a content varying between 17.51 ± 0.17 and 21.21 ± 0.18 % at stage 4 (52 days) of maturity. Seeds of black cultivar produced at stage 4 (52 days) are rich in vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B9 and antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids. These seeds contain high levels of vitamins B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folic acid). The concentrations of these vitamins vary from 1900 to 2000.03 ¦Ìg/100g of dry matter and from 599.93 ± 0.86 to 600 ± 1.00 ¦Ìg/100g of dry matter respectively. P. lunatus seeds obtained at stage 4 (52 days) were rich in minerals. The Na/K ratio of white, red and black bean seeds varies from 0.04 to 0.05, i.e. less than 1. As a result, eating these Phaseolus lunatus bean seeds would probably reduce high blood pressure. In conclusion, Phaseolus lunatus seeds have good nutritional quality, the pods must be harvested at stage 4 (52 days) after fertilisation in order to satisfy consumers. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajfst/11/5/1/ajfst-11-5-1.pdf maturity physiology pods nutrients phaseolus lunatus