Quinoa Research and Development for lowland environments in South America

BERTERO, H D

Dubai

Conferencia; International Quinoa Conference 2016. Quinoa for Future Food and Nutrition Security in Marginal Environments; 2016

International Center For Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)

The lowlands of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil include vast areas of agricultural production. As a consequence of technological development plus international seed market conditions, crop production is concentrated around a few crops, mostly soybean. The appearance of quinoa in the international market made this species attractive as an option for agriculture diversification because of its high prices and capacity to grow in marginal environments. Growing quinoa in these new environments demanded the evaluation of germplasm adapted to local conditions, breeding and research to understand its adaptation and the search for solutions to some problems, like pre-harvest sprouting and seed deterioration. Local germplasm was available in Argentina and Chile. Argentinian germplasm is cultivated in highland environments, present high genetic variation but there is yet no development of a system for its production in the lowlands or its inclusion in breeding programs. Central and southern Chile, on the other hand, is the source of most germplasm cultivated in temperate environments, including the Argentinian and Uruguayan Pampas and one company from Temuco currently develops commercial varieties for temperate environments. Andean germplasm was used to develop varieties adapted for cultivation in the Brazilian Planalto and this country led the effort to fit quinoa to hotter tropical environments, including selecting local varieties, and adjusting crop management for conventional agriculture (tillage, fertilization and weed control methods). Basic research focused on photoperiod and temperature responses of development, crop carbon balance and yield determination, salinity, water and high temperature stress responses, the mechanisms controlling seed dormancy and deterioration, and leaf senescence. Relevant research contributions are the identification of sources or resistance to pre-harvest sprouting with slower deterioration under hotter and humid environments. Finally, comparison of quinoa grown in highland and lowland environments showed that similar nutritional qualities could be achieved under contrasting environments.