Amaranthus, a cosmopolitan genus including endangered species, restricted endemics and widespread weeds, is often difficult to characterize taxonomically and thus has generally been considered by systematists as a “difficult” genus. Species in this genus have high genetic variability, with diversity in growth form, plant height, number of inflorescences, seed colour, protein content, seed yield, resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptation to soil type, pH, climate, rainfall and day-length. The combination of various anatomical characteristics of Amaranthus, such as Kranz anatomy, well developed root system, stomatal conductance, and maintenance of leaf area, results in increased efficiency of using CO2 under a wide range of temperatures, and higher light intensity and moisture stress environments which enables this plant to adapt under diverse geographic and environmental conditions. Buried seeds of Amaranthus constitute an important part of the soil seed bank and position, distribution and dormancy type of these seeds in the soil play an important role in their germination and subsequent emergence, which is further influenced by factors like temperature, soil moisture, and light availability. The current review highlights the positive as well as negative role of the various species of genus Amaranthus. Many species of the genus are medicinally important and bear antiallergic, anticancer, antihypertensive and antioxidant properties, thus being used in the treatment of several aliments. Amaranthus being a rich source of fatty acids, proteins, micronutrients, vitamins and squalene, are used as cereals, dye plants, forages, medicinal plants, ornamentals, and as vegetables. However some of the Amaranthus species are noxious weeds which are known to compete with many economic crops in different parts of the world and cause great yield losses. Thus, further research is warranted to strike a balance between the beneficial and harmful species of this Pseudocereal. Moreover, understanding the weedy behaviour of these plants would provide valuable information for improving our mechanistic models of crop-weed competition and weed population dynamics.

中文翻译：

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苋菜生物学

Amaranthus 是一种世界性的属，包括濒临灭绝的物种、受限制的地方性和广泛分布的杂草，通常很难在分类学上表征，因此通常被系统学家认为是一个“困难的”属。该属物种具有很高的遗传变异性，在生长形式、株高、花序数量、种子颜色、蛋白质含量、种子产量、抗病虫害以及对土壤类型、pH、气候、降雨和日照的适应性方面具有多样性-长度。苋菜的各种解剖特征的结合，如克兰茨解剖结构、发育良好的根系、气孔导度和叶面积的维持，导致在广泛的温度范围内提高使用二氧化碳的效率，以及更高的光照强度和水分胁迫环境，使这种植物能够适应不同的地理和环境条件。苋菜埋藏种子是土壤种子库的重要组成部分，这些种子在土壤中的位置、分布和休眠类型对其发芽和出苗起重要作用，其进一步受温度、土壤湿度、光的可用性。目前的评论强调了苋属不同物种的积极和消极作用。该属的许多物种具有重要的药用价值，具有抗过敏、抗癌、抗高血压和抗氧化特性，因此可用于治疗多种食物。苋菜富含脂肪酸、蛋白质、微量营养素、维生素和角鲨烯，用作谷物、染料植物、饲料、药用植物、观赏植物和蔬菜。然而，一些苋属植物是有害杂草，众所周知，它们会与世界不同地区的许多经济作物竞争并造成巨大的产量损失。因此，有必要进一步研究以在这种 Pseudocereal 的有益和有害物种之间取得平衡。此外，了解这些植物的杂草行为将为改进我们的作物-杂草竞争和杂草种群动态机制模型提供有价值的信息。有必要进一步研究以在这种 Pseudocereal 的有益和有害物种之间取得平衡。此外，了解这些植物的杂草行为将为改进我们的作物-杂草竞争和杂草种群动态机制模型提供有价值的信息。有必要进一步研究以在这种 Pseudocereal 的有益和有害物种之间取得平衡。此外，了解这些植物的杂草行为将为改进我们的作物-杂草竞争和杂草种群动态机制模型提供有价值的信息。