ADAPTABILITY OF AMARANTH GENOTYPES FOR PRODUCTION IN NORTHEASTERN OF MÉXICO

Abstract

In order to define the grain production capability and propose the introduction of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) as a an alternative crop for the Autumn–Winter (AW) season in the Northeast of México, at the Experimental Station of the Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad Autónoma de N. L., Marín, N. L., México, an experiment was conducted during the AW 2001 season. A randomized complete block design in a split plot arrangement with two replications was used. Four genotypes of Amaranthus hypochondriacus (655, 153-5-3, 653 and Criollo Tlaxcala) and one of A. cruentus (33) were assigned to main plots, and four plant populations (31 250, 41 666, 62 500 and 125 000 plants/ha) to subplots. Grain yield (GY), green forage yield (GFY), plant height (PH) and panicle length (PL) were analyzed. Grain yield, for all densities was higher in A. cruentus genotype 33 than in A. hypochondriacus genotypes. At 125 000 plants/ha the genotype 33 expressed the highest GY (1 637.5 kg ha^-1), whereas genotype 655, the best of A. hypochondriacus, yielded only 306 kg ha^-1. The large difference in adaptability to the environmental conditions of WA-2001 crop season in Northeastern México among  genotypes of these two amaranth species, could be due to long days and temperatures above 40 ⁰C during the flowering period, which were tolerated by A. cruentus genotype 33 adapted to altitudes of 400 to 1500 m and warm climates of the Central and South México; the A. hypochondriacus genotypes are adapted at altitudes of 1 500 to 2 200 m and temperate climate of High Valleys of the Central México, where flowering occurs at temperatures below 27 ⁰C. Genotype 33 was higher than the remaining genotypes in GFY and genotypes PL, and 33, 653 and 153-5-3 overrated the rest in PH. This preliminary results show that A. cruentus genotype 33 might be established at 125 000 plants/ha for grain and forage production in the AW crop season of Northeastern of México. A. hypochondriacus genotypes should not be used because then are sensitive to long days and high temperatures during flowering.