Amaranth (Amaranthus spp. L.)
(Amaranthaceae), an endemic plant in
Central and South America, grows worldwide, being cultivated in many temperate
and tropical countries. Although several species of amaranth are frequently
considered weeds, the plant is recognized as a food, constructive medicine, a
source of protein and minerals livestock feed. The plant is widely cultivated,
promoted, and increasingly consumed as a leafy vegetable and traditional
medicine in Africa. Despite progressive genetic improvement and modern plant
growing technologies, unfavorable climatic and ecological factors reduce the
yield, and quality of the active plant botanicals. The role of bio-transformed
endophytic microbial plant growth regulator formulation (BESF) on yield and
accumulation of phenolic compounds in amaranth leaves is poorly understood. The
current study assessed the effects of pre-sowing seed treatments with 0.0 %,
0.2 % and 0.4 % concentrations of BESF solution on germination, leaf yield,
flavor and phenolic content in genetically selected Amaranthus hybridus var.
cruentus. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Significant treatment means were separated using Tukey test at p<0.05.
BESF significantly increased fresh marketable leaf yield by over 360 kg/ha (29
%) compared to the control. The total flavonoid content in the leaves was
raised by 34 % and 47 % with 0.2 % and 0.4 % BESF solution treatments
respectively, compared to control. Maximum concentration levels of rutin,
apigenin, apigetrin, and quercetin was obtained with 0.4% BESF solution
treatment. An analysis of the collected data suggest that BESF was effective in
overall improvement in leaf yield, chemical content, and flavor of A.
hybridus var. cruentus, allowing
us to recommend BESF application to raise A.
hybridus var. cruentus leaves for
nutrition and pharmacological applications.
Subjects | Structural Biology |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | January 4, 2018 |
Submission Date | July 11, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2018 Volume: 5 Issue: 1 |