EFFECT OF GRAIN SIZE AND GENOTYPE ON THE POPPING VOLUME IN AMARANTH

Abstract

In Mexico, amaranth is consumed mainly as expanded or popped grain. However, there is not enough information to understand the relationship between grain characteristics and popping volume. Therefore, in amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L), the influence of grain size on popping volume and its relationship with grain moisture, genotype and production environment was determined. The study factors were three kernel sizes (1.00, 0.84 and 0.71 mm), two lines (LS-29 and LS-30), three commercial lots and two levels of kernel moisture (9 and 13 %). Grain expansion was carried out in July 2022 at the Puebla Campus of the Colegio de Postgraduados. The experimental design was a completely randomized, treatments with factorial arrangement and three replications. In the statistical analysis, an analysis of variance and mean test (Tukey, 0.05 %) were performed. The results show significant differences (P ≤ 0.5) in the main variation factors and in all double interactions. Between the 1.0 and 0.841 mm grain sizes there was no difference in popping volume (VREV) and both exceeded the 0.707 mm size. However, in the grain size x genotype interaction, differential response was observed between genotypes. In LS29 the best was size 0.84 mm and in genotype LS30 size 1.0 mm, with 193 and 172.7 ml, respectively. VREV was found to be affected by the interaction of grain size with genotype, production site and grain moisture.