Abstract:

Agriophyllum squarrosum (L.) Moq is an annual psammophyte belonged to subfamily Chenopodiaceae of Amaranthaceae, which distributes wildly in moving sand dunes in arid and semi-arid regions of Central Asia. The seed has a high nutrient value containing around 23.2% protein, 9.7% lipid and 45.0% carbohydrates, which can be comparable to Quinoa, a crop that called as entire human nutrient food by FAO. There are all of the essential amino acids in protein of sand rice. Main contents of A. squarrosum seed fat are linoleic acid, Oleic acid and linolenic acid. If calculate by the first limit essential amino acids-Lysine content, 1 200 kg A. squarrosum seed which is a potential yield per hectare equals to 3 840 kg wheat and 4 800 kg rice. There are also some physiological activators such as chlorogenic acid, SOD, isoflavone, saponin, alkaloids and minerals such as Fe, Zn, Se in sand rice which are good for human health. A. squarrosum seed had been recorded as food 1 300 years ago, but in such a long history people never domesticate it. Through collecting wild genetic resources, mutation induction, plant selection and suitable cultivation, we try to improve some wild traits, such as small seed, irregularity germination, side branch first-grow pattern, stinging leaves and bracts. In the near future, we hope to create a high yield, well-performed cultivar. In the climate change and global food crisis, domesticating A. squarrosum as a food crop is urgent and suit for national food security strategy.

Key words: Agriophyllum squarrosum, food security, global climate change, Quinoa, induced mutation, domestication and breeding