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Amaranth – The Crop of the Future

14. 1. 2025 | 516 visits

At the Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Nitra, research is being conducted on the only Slovak varieties of amaranth. This crop, known in South America for over 8,000 years and part of the daily diet of the Incas, Aztecs, and Mayans, has recently attracted the interest of growers, breeders, and food manufacturers both locally and abroad.

"Amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) is a so-called pseudocereal. The seeds of pseudocereals have similar composition and processing properties to cereal grains but do not contain gluten. Amaranth products are suitable for consumption on a gluten-free diet. Additionally, amaranth seeds are rich in proteins, starch, fats, and are a source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. An important component is squalene, a powerful antioxidant widely used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries," said Monika Szabóová from the Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, SAS.

Between 2013 and 2016, the first two Slovak varieties of amaranth – Pribina and Zobor – were officially recognized. These varieties received breeding certificates and are legally protected within Slovakia as well as across EU member states. They are characterized by consistently higher thousand-seed weight and larger seeds compared to original genotypes and commercial varieties.

Under the leadership of Dr. Andrea Hricová, multidisciplinary research on amaranth is being conducted at the SAS. This research focuses on the study of amaranth's adaptability to environmental stress conditions, such as salinity, heavy metals, and their combinations in soil. The scientific team also explores the effects of selected beneficial elements (e.g., silicon and selenium) on enhancing amaranth's resistance to these factors and investigates its nutritional properties and potential uses in food production.

"In addition to its unique nutritional properties, amaranth is resistant to many diseases, tolerates drought, salinity, and high temperatures, making it an important alternative crop in the context of current global warming. In upcoming Horizon Europe projects, we plan to collaborate with the private sector to test amaranth cultivation through alternative farming methods and focus on further applications of this crop in the food industry," added Monika Szabóová.

 

Author, Source, and Contact Person:  Miroslav Perniš, Plant Biology and Biodiversity Center, SAS, Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, 037/6943 329

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