Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): The typical vegetable cowpea has higher polysaccharides : monosaccharide ratio.
Statement (II): Amino acid profile particularly lycin, leucin and phenylalanine contents are relatively high in cowpea.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are false.
• C. Statement (I) is true but Statement (II) is false.
• D. Statement (I) is false but Statement (II) is true.

Hint:

Carbohydrates in plants: Primarily stored as complex polysaccharides (starch, fiber), not simple sugars (monosaccharides). So, polysaccharide content is much higher.
Protein in legumes: Cowpea, being a legume, is a good protein source. Legumes are notably rich in lysine and other essential amino acids.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Let's evaluate the two statements about vegetable cowpea: Statement (I): The typical vegetable cowpea has higher polysaccharides : monosaccharide ratio. Vegetable cowpea, like most plant-based foods, stores its carbohydrates primarily in complex forms (polysaccharides) such as starch (for energy) and cellulose/hemicellulose (as dietary fiber). Monosaccharides (simple sugars like glucose or fructose) are present but usually in much smaller quantities compared to polysaccharides. Therefore, the ratio of polysaccharides to monosaccharides would indeed be high. This statement is true. Statement (II): Amino acid profile particularly lycin, leucin and phenylalanine contents are relatively high in cowpea. Cowpea is a legume and, like other legumes, is a good source of protein. Legume proteins are generally rich in the essential amino acid lysine, which is often deficient in cereal grains. Leucine and phenylalanine are also essential amino acids found in significant amounts in cowpea protein. Thus, cowpea has a favorable amino acid profile, with relatively high contents of these specific amino acids. This statement is true. Since both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true, option (1) is the correct answer. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true.

Answer 2

Quick check using nutrient composition data:
Vegetable cowpea seeds, like other legumes, store carbohydrate mainly as starch and fibre (polysaccharides) rather than free sugars, so a high polysaccharide:monosaccharide ratio is an expected feature of legume seeds - Statement (I) holds.
Separately, published amino-acid profiles of cowpea protein show it is comparatively rich in lysine, leucine and phenylalanine, the amino acids often limiting in cereal-based diets - Statement (II) also holds.
Since neither statement can be eliminated on compositional grounds, both must be accepted as correct, ruling out options (2), (3) and (4) and leaving option (1) as the only combination where both statements are true.