Developing Genetic Variability of Quinoa (<i>Chenopodium quinoa</i> Willd.) with Gamma Radiation for Use in Breeding Programs

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a staple food produced mainly by small-scale subsistence farmers in Peru's highland. Dry seeds (cv. Pasankalla) were irradiated with doses of 150 Gy, 250 Gy and 350 Gy. In the M 1 generation, the germination process was delayed with increasing radiation dose; seedling height, root length and leaf development were most reduced at 250 Gy and at 350 Gy, no plants survived. In M 2 , the maximum spectrum of chlorophyll mutations corresponded to 150 Gy and the maximum frequency to 250 Gy. The chlorine mutation was predominant, followed by xantha. Changes were registered for branch number, pedicel length, plant height, life-cycle duration, stem and foliage colour, and leaf morphology at the two doses, with improvements in plant type. More than one mutation per plant was found, especially at 250 Gy. In M 3 , the same spectrum of mutations was observed, along with a valuable change in grain colour.

Smallholders’ Preferences for Improved Quinoa Varieties in the Peruvian Andes

“…This paper unravels farmers' preferences for improved quinoa varieties, and entails important implications for seed developers and breeding programs. In Peru, recent breeding programs focus on generating varieties with early maturity and short plant height for the introduction of quinoa in large-scale, modern and mechanized agricultural systems [29]-such as quinoa production in two seasons in high-technology farms along the Peruvian coast. However, small-scale and food insecure farmers who grow quinoa in non-irrigated and lowly mechanized systems in the highlands, do not benefit from these investments and improved varieties.…”

“…In Europe and North America, breeding programs concentrate on early maturity, high yield, uniformity of seeds and sweet cultivars for commercial production [28]. In Peru, the Cereal and Native Grain Research Program at the National Agricultural University La Molina is developing genetically improved quinoa seeds, with a focus on early maturation and reduction in plant height for easier introduction of quinoa in modern agricultural systems [29].…”

SO2-catalysed steam pretreatment of quinoa stalks

“…is a colourful pseudo‐cereal, which can be grown from sea level up to an elevation of 3900 m. The quinoa is very resistant to drought and large temperature variation, and it has been grown in the Andean region of South America for many thousands of years . The genetic variability is very large and more than 2500 mutant varieties of more than 170 different species are known . The quinoa grain contains more protein than most other grains (about 15%), and is particularly rich in the essential amino acid lysine, but also threonine and methionine .…”

Allelopathic Potential of Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.) Genotypes on the Germination and Initial Development of Some Weeds and Crops

“…For this reason, it plays a key role as an alternative crop in marginal areas (FAO, 1998). Quinoa has gathered much attention in recent years for its high level of salinity tolerance (Koyro and Eisa, 2007;Hariadi et al, 2011;Ruiz-Carrasco et al, 2011;Pulvento et al, 2012 andGomez-Pando andla Barra, 2013). Furthermore, this crop has recently gained much attention in Egyptian agriculture; particularly, in marginal areas under rain fed conditions (Shams, 2012).…”