The World Vegetable Center <i>Amaranthus</i> germplasm collection: Core collection development and evaluation of agronomic and nutritional traits

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is an underutilized crop increasing in popularity as a grain and leafy vegetable. It rich protein, minerals, vitamins, adapts well to range of production systems. Currently, the lack improved cultivars limits use crop. Breeding-improved requires access large collections amaranth biodiversity stored genebanks. The task searching such vast for traits interest can be eased by generating core collections, which display diversity much smaller germplasm set. World Vegetable Center collection contains around 1,000 accessions 13 species; among them, there are 281 four species important vegetable Africa (A. cruentus, A. hypochondriacus, caudatus, dubius). Based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker genotype diversity, (CC) 76 accessions, cultivars, selections was assembled. To extent, it represents whole collection. CC evaluated yield nutritional parameters during cool warm seasons Tanzania Taiwan pretest variation drought tolerance has been performed. Cultivar Madiira 2, cultivar developed Africa, outperformed all other tested terms stability, but several had higher yield, lower wilting score, nutrient content than 2. This indicates used further improvement cultivars.