Progeny selection from natural hybrids of ‘BRS Alegria’ Amaranthus cruentus

Amaranth species have gained interest in modern agriculture as food, colouring and ornamentals, grown as field crops and garden plants.
Their adaptation into production systems relies on exploiting genetic variability.
Progenies originated from natural crosses, within ‘BRS Alegria’ Amaranthus cruentus, were evaluated in Brasília, Brazil.
Interpolated control design was used where progenies were alternated by plots of ‘Dourada’ (control). Progenies of typical ‘BRS Alegria’ plants were used, forming two blocks each, made by single row plots 4.0 m long and spaced by 0.5 m.
The harvest area was 1.0 m long within a row.
After height measurement, plants were cut near the ground line and dried until reaching constant weight.
Total biomass, grain yield and seed weight were collected, while harvest index was calculated.
The progenies were compared by multivariate analysis and the best performers, B2 and B7, with genetic diversity for further breeding were selected.
The study demonstrated that natural hybrids in amaranth generate new recombinants associating agronomic characters and multiple colour plants, for cultivar acquisition.

VI International Symposium on Seed, Transplant and Stand Establishment of Horticultural Crops

C.R. Spehar, E.C. Santos

amaranth, panicle, productivity, segregation, selection, breeding

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1249.6