ABSTRACT
Europe and Asia are said to be the origin of broad bean. Faba bean (minor) is an ancient small-seeded relative of the Chinese broad bean (Vicia faba major). Broad bean, also known as faba bean, horse bean, or bakla bean, is a minor legume crop cultivated on a small scale in India but widely cultivated in Latin America. Broad bean, being a legume crop, fixes nitrogen into the soil. Faba bean has a limited ability for self-pollination and yields benefit from insect pollinators to maximize seed set. The Chinese broad bean (Vicia faba major) is cultivated on large area in China, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and South America. Stachyose, raffinose and verbascose are the main oligosaccharides found prevalent in faba bean. Faba bean is well adapted to moist areas and performs well under relatively cool growing conditions. Broad bean is sown twice in a year, once in the months of February-March and another in September-October.
