TECHNOLOGICAL ELEMENTS TO GROW LEAF BIOMASS IN AMARANTH WITH INCREASED CONTENT OF ANTIOXIDANTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL PRUDUCTS AND FOR PROPHYLACTIC PURPOSE

Diverse technological methods are widely used in horticulture to improve the energy of seed germination, as well as growth and development of plants and their productivity. Ecologically safe methods to accelerate the plant growth processes are known as a presowing treatment of seeds and foliar feeding by plant growth-stimulating agents of natural origin. Pre-sowing seed treatment is necessary when plants grow and maturate not simultaneously, as noticed in amaranth. The action of growth-stimulating agents is an influence in slight concentration not only on biometrical plant parameters, but also on photosynthetic reactions and whole plant physiology. The seed treatment by preparations containing biologically active substances is not only ecologically safe methods but also an economically profitable. Consequently, improvement of quality in vegetable crops by high content of biologically active substances in them, such as polyphenols can be reached with technologies based on the use of preparations, containing biologically active substances and biogenic chemical elements. It was shown that distinctive feature of red leaf plants of amaranth cultivar ‘Valentina’ was a very variable concentration of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids (quercetin, apigenin and their glycosides), hydroxycinnamic acids, simple phenols, polymeric and condensed polyphenols in different aged leaves at the time of vegetation. Moreover, the metabolite variation, antioxidant in fractions of phenolic compounds, obtained from different aged leaves, was increased by biopreparations of natural origin. It is supposed that those preparations had an effect on stress-action system as in protective plant reaction, increasing the antioxidants content. The data obtained has shown that the plants of amaranth, as a promising source of antioxidants, can be used to develop functional food products and phytopreparations.