GRAIN YIELD AND EXPANSION VOLUME OF IMPROVED VARIETIES OF AMARANTH FOR HIGH VALLEYS OF PUEBLA

Abstract

In amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.), currently there are no evaluations that simultaneously address commercial grain production and popping expansion of grain in cultivated varieties grown in Mexico. The objective of this study was to evaluate grain yield, its stability and popping expansion, as well as some agronomic characteristics of ten amaranth varieties in five locations of the highlands of Puebla. Seven improved varieties were evaluated: Nutrisol, Revancha, Laura, Gabriela, Diego, Areli, and PQ₂. The controls were two local populations identified as C30 and C2, and the population of the cooperating farmer (CrPr) where each trial was established. Field evaluations were carried out in Tochimizolco, Tecuanipan, Calpan, Chiautzingo and Ciudad Serdán, in the state of Puebla, México using a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in each locality. The registered traits were grain yield (REND), days to flowering, plant height, panicle length, specific weight and weight of one-thousand seeds. In popping expansion, the popping volume (PV) and popped-grain yield (PGY) were measured. Analysis of variance, means test and stability analysis for REND and PV were performed using the AMMI model. The analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences among varieties and localities for almost all traits ; the interaction variety x location was significant for six out of the seven traits measured. The outstanding varieties in REND were C30, Laura, C2, CrPr and Nutrisol, with 3439, 3272, 3020, 2885 and 2847 kg ha^-1, respectively. In VP, C2 was the best variety with 10.0 mL g^-1. The AMMI analysis of REND showed that the most stable varieties were Laura and Diego. In VEXP the most stable were Gabriela, Nutrisol, and Laura. The best improved variety was Laura as it presented high REND, an acceptable VP and stability in both REND and VP.