Agronomic Biofortification of Amaranthus dubius with Macro Nutrients and Vitamin A

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2017-08, Vol.225 (1), p.12214
• Main Authors: Mala, R., Ruby Celsia, A. S., Mahalakshmi, R., Rajeswari, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy; Aldehydes; Antioxidants; Biofortification; Carbohydrates; Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Germination; Nutrients; Proteins; Retinene; Vitamin A
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/225/1/012214

Agronomic biofortification of Amaranthus dubius with carbohydrates, proteins and Vitamin A using Spirulina platensis is reported in the present preliminary study. S. platensis was applied basally to field and its influence on germination, concentration of proteins, carbohydrates, chlorophyll, carotenoids and antioxidant activity of leaves were assessed in CO1 variety of A. dubius. Biofortification of the nutrients were evaluated on 5th and 20th day. Germination was optimum at 0.005 % of S. platensis as a fertilizer and the agronomic fortifying agent. Germination in control was 82 % and 95 % in 0.005 % of S. platensis fortification. The concentration of total chlorophyll in control and biofortified leaf on 20th day were 85.6 mg/g and 325 mg/g of dried leaf. The concentration of proteins was 71.93 mg/g and 450 mg/g on 20th day in control and fortified leaves. S. platensis applied field produced leaves fortified with 1.27 % of vitamin A aldehyde. Antioxidant activity of control leaf was 34.85 % and it was significantly increased in fortified leaves to 87 %. Thus the study confirms the fortification of leaf with proteins, carbohydrates and vitamin A.