PRIBINA – A new Amaranth variety

A team of breeders from the Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology of the Plant Science and Biodiversity Center SAS in cooperation with a breeder from the Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, has managed to breed a new variety of Amaranthus cruentus L. – ‘PRIBINA’, which is a very promising crop for the future thanks to its valuable characteristics in combination with adaptation to a wide range of growing regions. Variety characteristics are: medium early variety of high stature and of grain type with an average weight of 1000 seeds of 0.96 g. Variety characteristics are: medium early variety of high stature and of grain type with an average weight of 1000 seeds of 0.96 g.

Possibilities of use:

• cultivation for seed with potential utilization in the food industry for the production of healthy and special foods for the health support of the population (e.g. for the production of gluten-free cereal products needed for people suffering from celiac disease),
•  good possibilities for use also in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry thanks to uniquely small starch grains.

Competitive advantage:

• increased seed production potential, while maintaining high nutritional value with a number of biologically valuable substances,
• very high nutritional value with high protein content (16 – 18%),
• well-balanced composition of essential amino acids,
•  high content of calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus,
• relatively high fiber content (5 – 25%),
• increased folate content,
• tolerance to drought and to high temperatures,
• possibility of cultivation also in arid and semiarid conditions,
• ability to grow also in poorer soils that are not suitable for cereal crops,
• high adaptability to altitude.