Amaranth

Amaranthus spp.

Vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) is a leafy vegetable crop consumed around the world and actively promoted as a source of essential micronutrients to at-risk populations, making micronutrient content essential to the underlying value of this crop. However, the extent to which micronutrient contents vary by genotype, environment, and the interaction of these effects is needed to verify the efficacy of this crop to serve as a cost-effective delivery mechanism for essential micronutrients. By screening a range of vegetable amaranth genotypes in multi-environmental trials, our research aims to optimize economic returns for producers as well as nutritional efficacy for consumers of this crop.

Publications:

2020. Govindasamy, R., Q. Gao, J.E. Simon, E. Van Wyk, S. Weller, G. Ramu and M. Mbeweu. An assessment of African Indigenous Vegetables grower’s production practices and the environment: a case study from Zambia. J. Medicinally Active Plants 9(3):195-208.