Coastal/lowland quinoa ecotype is an important source of germplasm due to its cultivation in cold-temperate and high latitude areas. However, the interaction of its morphological traits and yields to define breeding criteria is unknown. The present study was designed to characterize the phenotypic diversity of twelve coastal/lowland quinoas using sixteen standardized morphological descriptors under rainfed conditions in central Chile. Complementary analysis of uni-and multivariate tools allowed a fuller understanding of interrelationships within quinoa germplasm. Through the analysis of frequency distribution, it was possible to determine that genotypes were characterized by plants having low height and medium grain yield. Cluster analysis revealed that plant morphological variables were independently grouped from grain yield components. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA, 74.8% of total variation data), revealed the existence of three outstanding genotypes (QC01, QC02 and QC05) that were distantly located from the average dispersion of entire germplasm collection. These genotypes were associated with grain yield components, allowing the identification of two groups of high yield (VI and VII), which yielded 3337.7 and 3052.0 kg ha -1 , respectively. The data set presented in this study is the first report of coastal/lowland quinoas assessed in central Chile and could assist the development of breeding programmes in cold-temperate areas having similar agro-climatic conditions.

This chapter describes why quinoa is in such demand in the health food market and the particular situation of Chile compared with other countries in the international quinoa market. A new, transparent type of market is proposed to increase the sustainability and resilience of local and global market networks, including for quinoa.

P. Olguín, A. De Kartzow, and C. Huenchuleo. 2019. Sustainability of Quinoa in Rainfed Agricultural Systems: A Case Study on the O'Higgins Region, Chile. Cien. Inv. Agr. 46(2): 197-207.Quinoa is a grain that has seen a rapid consumption boom in recent years. Chile has also followed this trend through quinoa consumption associated with a healthy diet and environmental care. The correlation between quinoa crops and farming sustainability lays mainly in the actions and expertise of the agents involved in the decision-making process, who depend on the available experience and knowledge. Multicriteria decision analysis is a set of support techniques in the decision-making process. It consists of directing multiple opinions and assessment criteria, in specific actions, validated by an interest group. This study is based on the definition and weighting of the criteria that influence the sustainability of quinoa as a crop in contrast with the wheat as the most important crop in the rainfed area, taking into account the opinions of farmers and other parties involved. The findings are the weighting of the criteria of the following variables: contribution to family income, ease of sales, positive impact on the environment, production cost savings, knowledge of the crop, and government support. The model helped to create a quantitative basis for the sustainability potential of quinoa as a booming crop and as an alternative for the traditional wheat crop in farming.

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