Edamame, the green soybeans that are popular as a snack or a side dish, are not only delicious but also nutritious.
They are rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. But did you know that edamame also depend on pollinators for their production and quality?
A recent study by researchers from the University of Maryland Agricultural Research Service found that pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, have a significant impact on the marketability of edamame.
The study was published in the Journal of Pollination Ecology.
Pollinators Increase Yield and Size of Edamame Pods
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The researchers conducted field experiments with two edamame cultivars, Envy and Gardensoy 42, in Illinois and Maryland.
They compared the yield and quality of edamame plants that were exposed to natural pollinators, those that were hand-pollinated, and those that were excluded from pollinators by using mesh bags.
They found that pollinators increased the yield of edamame by 36% and 71% for Envy and Gardensoy 42, respectively.
Pollinators also increased the size of edamame pods by 8% and 17% for Envy and Gardensoy 42, respectively.
The researchers explained that pollinators help to transfer pollen from the male to the female parts of the edamame flowers, which results in more fertilized seeds and larger pods.
Edamame plants have both male and female flowers, but they are not self-compatible, meaning that they need pollen from another plant of the same cultivar to produce seeds.
Pollinators Enhance Quality and Appearance of Edamame Pods
They used a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means poor and 5 means excellent, to rate the pod color, shape, uniformity, and freshness.
They found that pollinators improved the quality and appearance of edamame pods by 0.5 to 1 point for both cultivars.
Pollinators increased the pod color by 0.6 and 0.9 points, the pod shape by 0.5 and 0.8 points, the pod uniformity by 0.5 and 0.7 points, and the pod freshness by 0.5 and 1 point for Envy and Gardensoy 42, respectively.
The researchers attributed the improved quality and appearance of edamame pods to the increased seed set and pod size caused by pollinators.
They said that larger pods with more seeds have a brighter green color, a rounder shape, a more consistent size, and a fresher look than smaller pods with fewer seeds.
The study suggests that pollinators are essential for the production and quality of edamame, which is a valuable crop for both growers and consumers.
The researchers estimated that pollinators contribute to an additional $4.5 million and $8.4 million in edamame sales for Envy and Gardensoy 42, respectively, in the U.S. market.
Edamame growers should adopt practices that support and protect pollinators, such as planting diverse flowering plants, avoiding pesticides, and providing nesting habitats.
They also encouraged consumers to appreciate and support the role of pollinators in edamame and other crops.
Pollinators are not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the economy and the society. They said that pollinators are "the unsung heroes of edamame production and quality".
