Know your Mung bean

Know your Mung bean - Introduction

• The mung bean, is the seed of Vigna radiata which is native to Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

• The split bean is known as moong dal, Pesara [పెసర] (Telugu), which is green with the husk, and yellow when dehusked.

• The beans are small, ovoid in shape, and green in colour.

• Mung beans are tropical (or sub-tropical) crops, and require warm temperatures (optimally around 30-35°C).

• Loamy soil is best for mung bean cultivation cultivation.

Know your Mung bean - Common names

• The mung bean (Hindi: मूँग) is also known as green bean, mongo, moong, moog dal (in Bengali), mash bean, munggo or monggo, green gram, golden gram, and green soy.

• These variations of nomenclature have been used regarding the same plant species.

• The English word "mung" derives from the Hindi moong.

• The mung bean is one of many species recently moved from the genus Phaseolus to Vigna and is still often seen cited as Phaseolus aureus or Phaseolus radiatus.

Know your Mung bean - Distribution

• Mung beans are mainly cultivated in China, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma, Bangladesh and India, but also in hot and dry regions of southern Europe and the southern USA.

• In India and Bangladesh, they are grown during two seasons. One is the Rabi season (starting November), and the other is the Kharif season (starting June).