Quinoa Phenotyping Methodologies: An International Consensus

Abstract

Quinoa is a crop originating in the Andes but grown more widely and with the genetic potential for significant further expansion. Due to the phenotypic plasticity of quinoa, varieties need to be assessed across years and multiple locations. To improve comparability among field trials across the globe and to facilitate collaborations, components of the trials need to be kept consistent, including the type and methods of data collected. Here, an internationally open-access framework for phenotyping a wide range of quinoa features is proposed to facilitate the systematic agronomic, physiological and genetic characterization of quinoa for crop adaptation and improvement. Mature plant phenotyping is a central aspect of this paper, including detailed descriptions and the provision of phenotyping cards to facilitate consistency in data collection. High-throughput methods for multi-temporal phenotyping based on remote sensing technologies are described. Tools for higher-throughput post-harvest phenotyping of seeds are presented. A guideline for approaching quinoa field trials including the collection of environmental data and designing layouts with statistical robustness is suggested. To move towards developing resources for quinoa in line with major cereal crops, a database was created. The Quinoa Germinate Platform will serve as a central repository of data for quinoa researchers globally.

Genome-wide association study in quinoa reveals selection pattern typical for crops with a short breeding history

“…We recorded days to bolting (days to bolting) as BBCH51 and days to flowering as BBCH60 twice a week during the growth period. DTM was determined when plants reached complete senescence (BBCH94)( Stanschewski et al, 2021 ). If plants did not reach this stage, DTM was set as 250 days.…”

High-Density Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling Agronomically Important Traits in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

“…The following traits were assessed in both populations: days to flowering (DTF), days to maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), panicle density (PD), saponin content (SC), and thousand kernel weight (TKW). We followed the protocols described by Jarvis et al (2017) for saponin measurement and those described by Stanschewski et al (2021) for the other traits with minor modifications as described in Supplementary Table 2 . Mildew susceptibility (MS) was recorded only in the F 3 population in the field, while seed weight per plant (SW) and seed number per plant (SN) were recorded only in the F 2 population.…”

Trends and Limits for Quinoa Production and Promotion in Pakistan

“…Phenotyping is a foundation of plant breeding and grain yield is the most reliable phenotypic trait in the breeding programs [62]. Secondary traits also contribute to crop improvement depending upon genotype by environment interaction under various environmental conditions [63].…”