Yield and Quality Characteristics of Different Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Cultivars Grown under Field Conditions in Southwestern Germany

Abstract

Due to its highly nutritive compounds, the demand for quinoa, a small grain originating from the Andean region of South America, increased rapidly over the last years. However, the main producing countries Bolivia and Peru cannot cover the growing demand. Therefore, the interest of European farmers in cultivating quinoa as a profitable source of income rose very fast. Thanks to a broad genetic diversity an adaption to various climatic conditions is possible. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of agronomic performance in two consecutive growing periods (2015 and 2016) of four European quinoa cultivars (Puno, Titicaca, Jessie, Zeno), originating from different genepools to identify a suitable cultivar to grow in southwestern Germany. Measurements included grain yield, thousand kernel weight (TKW), saponin content, protein content, crude fat content, amino acid profile and fatty acid profile. This study demonstrated the possibility of an economic production of quinoa under the environmental conditions in southwestern Germany, combining competitive yields (1.73-2.43 Mg ha −1 ) with a high grain quality regarding protein content (11.9-16.1%), essential amino acid content (20.35-30.02 g 100 g −1 crude protein), fat content (5.5-7.5%) and fatty acid profile (consists of 60% linoleic acid). Depending on cultivar, the investigated yield (TKW and protein content)-and quality ((semi-)essential amino acids)-traits varied more or less sensitive, which was attributed to lower precipitation and higher temperatures in 2015. Furthermore, best yield-and quality-characteristics were not combined in one cultivar, wherefore the selection of a specific quinoa cultivar has to be aligned with the production aim. Figure 3. Thousand kernel weight (g) for the two years and four quinoa cultivars (Zeno, Jessie, Puno, Titicaca). Within year, bars headed by the same lowercase letter are not significantly different (p < 0.05). Capital letters compare the two years for the same cultivar, bars headed by the same letter are not significantly different (p < 0.05). Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean.Regarding grain protein concentrations, the four cultivars showed significant differences within and between years, however, within year differences occurred only in 2015 (Figure 4). In 2015, grain Agronomy 2018, 8, 197 9 of 19 protein contents varied significantly between 11.9 (cv. Zeno) and 16.1% (cv. Jessie), whereas values in 2016 were nearly at the same level (12.3-13.1%).

Proximate nutritional composition and heat-induced changes of starch in selected grains and seeds ♣

“…Crude protein content is reported to have a positive and significant correlation with root density (Präger et al, 2018). The currently investigated quinoa has 13.34% crude protein, which is in accordance with the stated percentage between 11 and 15 from Guzman-Maldonado and Paredes-Lopez (1998).…”

Physiological characteristics and irrigation water productivity of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in response to deficit irrigation imposed at different growing stages—A field study from Southern Iran

“…The average seed yield obtained in the first and second year (0.7 and 0.4, respectively) was lower than that reported for the same cultivar under field conditions (2.4 Mg/ha (Cocozza et al, 2013), 2.3 Mg/ha (Razzaghi, Ahmadi, Jacobsen, Jensen, & Andersen, 2012;Razzaghi, Plauborg, et al, 2012), 2.5 Mg/ha (Pulvento et al, 2012) and 1.98 Mg/ha (Präger, Munz, Nkebiwe, Mast, & Graeff-Hönninger, 2018)).…”

Quinoa: In Perspective of Global Challenges

“…Moreover, under irrigated conditions, seed yield was greater at Bunda (237-3019 kg/ha) than Bembeke (62-692 kg/ha). In support, Präger et al [74] observed significant differences in seed weight between growing seasons and the varieties. Hence, different environmental conditions can contribute to differential results and hence, more trials and field evaluations must be employed repetitively to ascertain the most appropriate variety for specific conditions.…”