Autotriploids in Amaranthus Tricolor Linn

Autotriploids were obtained in two forms of Amaranthus tricolor L., commonly consumed as greens, through reciprocal crosses between the autotetraploids and their respective diploids. The triploids exhibited gigantism in their morphological characters. Meiotic analysis revealed that about 65% of the total chromosomes were organ ized into trivalents at the F1 generation with a reasonably good fertility. Commercial exploitation of the triploids is not feasible on account of difficulty in raising the triploid seed on large scale and also due to lack of amenability to vegetative multiplication.