Harnessing drought tolerance in a reference set of Andean amaranths

Abstract

Climate change and low-input farming systems increasingly expose crops to drought stress. Andean amaranths (Amaranthus spp.), as neglected and underutilized species, offer potential for climate-resilient agriculture due to their inherent drought tolerance and adaptability. In Northwest Argentina (NWA), a region with high environmental heterogeneity, exploiting this genetic diversity may improve food security. This study evaluated drought tolerance and yield stability among Andean amaranth genotypes to: assess the effects of genotype and GxE interaction, determine the potential for selecting specifically adapted genotypes, and identify high-yielding, stable genotypes for drought-prone conditions. Eleven genotypes (cultivars, breeding lines, and landraces of A. caudatus and A. mantegazzianus) were tested across four agroecological zones in NWA under irrigated and drought-stressed conditions. Grain yield data were analyzed using linear mixed models and AMMI analysis. Genotypes differed significantly in grain yield across environments and irrigation regimes. Strong GxE interactions led to genotype re-ranking across sites. Several A. caudatus breeding lines (G1, G2, G3, G6) combined high yield and stability. The A. mantegazzianus landrace (G11) was highly stable but low yielding. Amaranth genotypes showed distinct responses to drought, with some lines exhibiting broad adaptation and others, specific adaptation to stress-prone environments.