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Amaranth seed varieties. A chemometric approach

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Abstract

In this work, the amino acid and fatty acid profiles were determined in two advanced lines of amaranth seeds: Amaranthus hypochondriacus × Amaranthus cruentus AH17a and Amaranthus cruentus AcG6/17a; as well as in two new varieties: Amaranthus cruentus var. Candil and Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Dorado. The following contents were found: protein (18.76–26.00 %), dietary fiber (15.91–17.80 %) and total lipids (10.62–11.44 %), high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids (77.80–82 % of total lipids), linoleic acid (41.94–55.50 % of total lipids) and lysine (47.3–68.6 mg g−1 of protein) were also found. Based on these composition data, chemometric tools were used to classify these new varieties and lines by unsupervised methods—principal component analysis and cluster analysis; as well as by supervised methods—sequential discriminant analysis (DA) and partial least squares DA. It was possible to correctly classify all varieties and lines using 11 variables. In conclusion, it was found that new varieties and advanced lines of amaranth show proper nutritional quality, which reveals the potential of this genus as agro-food. Also, a complete chemometric assessment allowed us to distinguish between these new varieties and lines.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the financial support provided by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Agencia Nacional de Promoción de Ciencia y Tecnología (ANPCYT), National University of San Luis and National University of La Pampa. They also, want to thank Prof. Roberto Olsina (National University of San Luis) for providing the Unscrambler 6.11 software; and the Faculty of Agronomy, National University of La Pampa for providing the InfoStat software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Chacabuco and Pedernera, 5700, San Luis, Argentina

    Elba G. Aguilar, María A. Uñates & Nora L. Escudero

  2. Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary, University of Río Cuarto, Ruta Nac. 36 Km 601, 5800, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina

    Edmundo G. Peiretti

  3. Chemistry Institute of San Luis (INQUISAL), Chacabuco and Pedernera, 5700, San Luis, Argentina

    Eduardo J. Marchevsky

  4. Institute of Environmental and Earth Sciences of La Pampa (INCITAP), Av. Uruguay 151, 6300, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina

    José Manuel Camiña

  5. Faculty of Exact and Nature Sciences, National University of La Pampa, Av. Uruguay 151, 6300, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina

    José Manuel Camiña

Authors
  1. Elba G. Aguilar
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  2. Edmundo G. Peiretti
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  3. María A. Uñates
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  4. Eduardo J. Marchevsky
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  5. Nora L. Escudero
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  6. José Manuel Camiña
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Correspondence to José Manuel Camiña.

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Aguilar, E.G., Peiretti, E.G., Uñates, M.A. et al. Amaranth seed varieties. A chemometric approach. Food Measure 7, 199–206 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-013-9156-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-013-9156-1

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