Amaranth Biology Chemistry and TechnologyOctavio Paredes-Lopez This book is devoted to amaranth, a plant to which 45 species are indigenous to the Mesoamerican region and 10 others originated in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Amaranth was the foundation of the extensive North and South American ancient civilizations and is still important in the agriculture of more recent Indian cultures. However, this plant nearly disappeared after the Spanish conquest. In view of the outstanding agronomic performance of the plant and the high nutritional value of the grain, it is now becoming an important crop in various regions of the world. Progress in the utilization of amaranth is directly related to scientific and technical information on its biological, physical, and chemical properties. Amaranth: Biology, Chemistry, and Technology begins with a chapter on the use of tissue culture, molecular biology, and genetic engineering techniques for crop improvement. The next few chapters deal with classical genetics, traditional plant breeding, and plant physiology. Following chapters review the properties of storage and leaf proteins, carbohydrates (especially starch), and seed oil. The potential of amaranth for new food products and popping is discussed, and commercialization and marketing of amaranth and its products are described. The book also emphasizes the outstanding nutritional properties of amaranth. |
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Agric albumins amaranth Amaranthus amaranth flour amaranth grain amaranth oil amaranth protein amaranth seed amaranth species amaranth starch Amaranthus caudatus Amaranthus cruentus Amaranthus hypochondriacus Amaranthus retroflexus amino acid composition amylopectin amylose Aztec Betschart biochemical breeding Bressani carbohydrate cells Cereal Chem cereal grains characterization chemical CO₂ corn crop cultivated defatted dormancy effects extraction fatty acid fiber flowering Food Chem Food Rev Food Sci fraction functional properties gelatinization gene genetic variation germination germplasm globulins glutelins grain amaranth grain race granules growth higher hybrid increased inflorescence inhibition inhibitors Isolation landraces Latinoam leaf lectin levels lipids lysine maize Mexico molecular weight nitrogen Nutr nutritive value paniculatus Paredes-López perisperm photosynthesis plant height popped amaranth popped seed populations potential Proc processing production prolamins protein quality reported Rodale Press seed coat Singhal soil squalene Starch/Stärke stomata structure studies Table temperature traits tricolor vegetable amaranth Weed weedy wheat yield