CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In Nigeria, as in most other tropical countries of Africa where the daily diet is
predominated by starchy staple foods, vegetables are the cheapest and most readily available
sources of important proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids (Akubugwo et al.,
2007). Since about 1980, Amaranthus spp. have been rediscovered as a promising food crop
mainly due to its resistance to heat, drought, diseases and pests, and the high nutritional value
of both the seeds and leaves (Wu et al., 2000).
1.1.1 Morphology and taxonomy of Amaranthus hybridus L.
Amaranthus spp., collectively known as amaranths are cosmopolitan annual or shortlived
perennial plants, consisting of approximately 60 species. Over 400 varieties within these
species are found throughout the world in both temperate and tropical climates, and they fall
roughly into one of four categories: grain, vegetable, ornamental or weed. Many fall into more
than one (Mlakar et al., 2010).
1.1.1.1 Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Amaranthus
Species: A. hybridus
(Vouch et al., 2000).
2
1.1.1.2 Plant description
Amaranthus hybridus is an annual herbaceous plant of 1-6 feet high. The leaves are
alternate petioled, 3 – 6 inches long, dull green, rough, hairy, ovate or rhombic with wavy
margins. The flowers are small, with greenish or red terminal panicles borne in dense elongated
clusters, usually on the tips of the branches. The taproot is long, fleshy red or pink. The small
seeds of A. hybridus are usually shiny black in colour, lenticellular in shape with each seed
averaging 1.0 – 1.5 mm in diameter and 1000 seeds weighi
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In Nigeria, as in most other tropical countries of Africa where the daily diet is
predominated by starchy staple foods, vegetables are the cheapest and most readily available
sources of important proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids (Akubugwo et al.,
2007). Since about 1980, Amaranthus spp. have been rediscovered as a promising food crop
mainly due to its resistance to heat, drought, diseases and pests, and the high nutritional value
of both the seeds and leaves (Wu et al., 2000).
1.1.1 Morphology and taxonomy of Amaranthus hybridus L.
Amaranthus spp., collectively known as amaranths are cosmopolitan annual or shortlived
perennial plants, consisting of approximately 60 species. Over 400 varieties within these
species are found throughout the world in both temperate and tropical climates, and they fall
roughly into one of four categories: grain, vegetable, ornamental or weed. Many fall into more
than one (Mlakar et al., 2010).
1.1.1.1 Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Amaranthus
Species: A. hybridus
(Vouch et al., 2000).
2
1.1.1.2 Plant description
Amaranthus hybridus is an annual herbaceous plant of 1-6 feet high. The leaves are
alternate petioled, 3 – 6 inches long, dull green, rough, hairy, ovate or rhombic with wavy
margins. The flowers are small, with greenish or red terminal panicles borne in dense elongated
clusters, usually on the tips of the branches. The taproot is long, fleshy red or pink. The small
seeds of A. hybridus are usually shiny black in colour, lenticellular in shape with each seed
averaging 1.0 – 1.5 mm in diameter and 1000 seeds weighi
