Russia: VIR scientists are working on increasing the cold resistance of grain amaranth

In Russia, amaranth was not considered a cultivated plant for a long time, since its wild forms predominated. However, in 1932, Academician N.I. Vavilov pointed out the need to use amaranth in agriculture as a new fodder crop. Vavilov’s interest in amaranth arose after his trip to South America in 1930, and he began collecting amaranth at the All-Union Institute of Plant Growing (VIR). Amaranth research at VIR has been intensified in recent years due to growing interest in the production of squalene. As part of the new project, VIR scientists, with the support of the Russian Science Foundation, will identify the source material for the selection and cultivation of grain forms of the “super-plant” amaranth in the North-West region of the Russian Federation. The main goal of the project is to obtain squalene from amaranth seed oil, which is a valuable compound for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. VIR has been actively engaged in research into amaranth and its ...