Phenetic differentiation and use-type delimitation in Amaranthus spp. from worldwide origins

摘要: Abstract Amaranthus species have been rediscovered as promising food crops mainly due to their resistance heat, drought, diseases and pests, the high nutritional value of both seeds leaves. This genus include grain cruentus , hypochondriacus a less extent caudatus also weedy vegetable blitum dubius graecizans spinosus tricolor viridis . Taxonomic bottlenecks related similarities between grain, weed types are yet be solved better understand evolutionary trend in group develop adequate selection lines. In present study, we carried out phenetic analysis 100 accessions belonging nine with various geographical origins assess morphological markers clarify inter- intraspecific variations among within species. Among 30 descriptors used, most distinguishing characters were inflorescence types, floral parts seed traits. Hierarchical cluster showed clear demarcation amaranths other Close relationships found A. on one hand other. Small-types cultivars closer than giant-types. Species grouping independent accession origin which gives insight into robustness markers. These results provided phylogenetic inconsistent previous infrageneric classification call for further investigations larger set these unlock potential crop improvement.