Development of Genetic and Genomic Resources for Amaranth Breeding

Amaranthus species are used as grain and vegetable crops. As a C-4 plant, amaranth is more tolerant to heat and drought than many other vegetables. The extraordinary nutritional properties of the plant—the seed protein of amaranth has a protein composition comparable to milk—make it a valuable addition to human diets, particularly in countries where the population has limited access to animal protein sources. Production of this high-value crop can increase the income and improve the livelihoods of resource-poor smallholder farmers. The broader use of amaranth is constrained by the lack of improved cultivars combining disease resistance with high market and eating quality. Little is known about the breeding potential and sustainable use of different Amaranthus species. The World Vegetable Center holds a diverse collection of 800 amaranth accessions and has started to mine this collection for genotypes with farmer- and consumer-desired traits for breeding. The most important traits sought are abiotic stress tolerance, disease and pest resistance, high nutrient and low antinutrient concentrations. Selected genotypes serve as founder lines for a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population of genotypes displaying new trait combinations. In parallel, molecular markers for germplasm diversity analysis and for monitoring amaranth crosses have been developed. Polyploid genotypes have been generated and individuals with waxy leaves with longer shelf life have been selected. The combination of germplasm enhancement and breeding with nutritional and socioeconomic research to increase marketing and consumption of amaranth will maximize the potential of this crop for mitigating poverty and malnutrition.