Characterization and preliminary evaluation of Vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)

Abstract

Amaranth is one of the main species of taxonomically diverse group of tropical leaf vegetables. The nutritional value of amaranth is excellent because of its high content of essential minerals (iron, calcium) and good source of vitamins (ß -carotene, vitamin C and folic acid). Amaranth belongs to the genus Amaranthus of the family Amaranthaceae. Amaranthus has many species which are used as leafy vegetables, e.g. A. tricolour, A. tristis, and A. viridis. It is widely cultivated throughout India especially during the summer and rainy seasons. There was little information on the extent and kind of diversity present in the collection maintained in Hyderabad, hence characterization and preliminary evaluation of these germplasm lines was considered an important area of study.