Molecular characterization of Ecuadorian quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) diversity: implications for conservation and breeding

• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-019-2371-z
• Publication Date: 2019-02-28T14:13:36Z
• Authors: Juan Salazar; María de Lourdes ...; Bernardo Gutierrez; Andrés Francisco ...
• Keywords: Chenopodium quinoa; Germ plasm; Genetic erosion; Genetic Variability

Abstract Quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is recognized as an important crop to improve global food security. It has gained international recognition because of the nutritional value its seeds and broad agronomic resilience. Although several studies have attempted characterize genetic diversity quinoa, none focused on evaluating germplasm from Ecuador; latter considered a relevant subcenter for species. In this study, 84 accessions representing species’ cultivated range in Ecuadorian Andes were characterized using 15 species-specific SSR markers. The extent allelic richness (196 alleles) heterozygosity H E = 0.71) detected these demonstrate that highly diverse. Phenetic analyzes structured into 3 subgroups; each containing genotypes all surveyed provinces. Average expected was high subgroups (0.53 ≤ 0.72), Nei-pairwise comparisons showed significant divergence among them (0.31 Nei DST 0.84). lack clear geographic pattern structure led us believe reported constitute independent lineages ancestral landrace populations which been disseminated throughout Ecuador via informal seed networks. Nevertheless, Wilcoxon test at least one subgroup had subject intensive inbreeding selection; possibly corresponds local commercial variety INIAP-Tunkahuan. Our results show prevailed despite introduction varieties, should be preserved future use breeding programs.