XVI International Botanical Congess

The center of origin of the genus Psophocarpus is clearly in Central Africa while the greatest diversity of the cultivated winged bean, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus is in south east Asia. Following early migration from its African ancestral home, the progenitor of the winged bean was subject to human-directed selection, improving it as a nutritional food source. Today over 1500 varieties are presently recognized in this potentially important food crop. Significant centers of diversity exist in Indonesia, Burma and Papua New Guinea where the plant has become a major contributor of protein in the local diet and an important rotation crop. Introduction into agricultural systems and selection for various food products from the plant changed traditional cultivation practices of these areas. Integration of the plant into existing agricultural systems in other parts of the world is an obstacle to broader scale introduction and utility. Modern perspectives on the origin and domestication of the winged bean and the genus Psophocarpus and its influence on human culture are presented.