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Healthy trend Superfoods Genome of the ancient crop Quinoa completely decoded
An international research team has succeeded in decoding the genome of Qunioa. The experts hope that the new findings can contribute to a targeted breeding of superfoods. The demand for the healthy grain fruit from the Andes is getting bigger.
Quinoa was grown thousands of years ago
Quinoa is one of the oldest crops. It comes from the Andean region and has been grown there for 6,000 years. In recent years, the grain fruit in this country became more popular. Because the seeds of superfoods form ingredients with a very high nutritional quality. The fat contained consists largely of valuable unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, quinoa contains many important minerals such as magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium.
An international research team has succeeded in decoding the genome of Qunioa. The demand for the superfood is getting bigger. (Image: jdjuanci / fotolia.com) Healthy superfood
Botanically speaking, quinoa does not belong to grasses such as wheat and oats, but is used in a similar way to cereals. Therefore, the pseudo grain is suitable, inter alia, for people with cereal intolerances.
The protein-rich food is also recommended for vegans. Quinoa can help you lose weight and protect against diseases. Even with various deficiency symptoms, such as iron deficiency, Quinoa can afford valuable services.
Plant grows under unfavorable conditions
It is also worth noting that plants also grow under unfavorable environmental conditions such as dry and salt stress. The increasing demand in recent years has greatly boosted the price of quinoa.
An international research team, including those from the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), has now gained important insights that could contribute to the targeted breeding of superfoods.
Quinoa was never fully domesticated
As the CAU reported in a recent communication, the quinoa genome was decoded under the direction of Professor Mark Tester of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The research results of the project, in which a total of 33 scientists from four continents were involved, were published in the current online issue of the journal "Nature".
"Quinoa was a major crop of ancient Andean civilizations, but after its conquest by the Spaniards, it lost much of its importance. This means that quinoa has never been completely domesticated and its genetic potential has not been fully exploited, despite the balanced ratio of positive ingredients, "said Professor Tester.
Targeted breeding is accelerated
According to the communication, a novel method was used for sequencing, which allows to sequence very large fragments. This allowed an almost complete sequence to be established that was anchored to the chromosomes.
It was reported that the high quality of this sequence allowed it to identify and characterize genomic genes.
"This will greatly accelerate targeted breeding to improve genetic potential," said Professor Christian Jung, who worked with Dr. Ing. Nadine Dally, both from the Institute for Plant Cultivation and Plant Breeding at Kiel University, was involved in the research project.
Formation of the bitter substance saponin
A problem in the use of the crop is according to the experts, the formation of a bitter substance (saponin) in the seeds: "We have identified the responsible genes and can now purposefully saponin-free plants breed," said Tester.
Furthermore, the selection of short-straw types with better stability is on the agenda. Such plants are then able to produce more seeds without kinking.
Of particular interest to the Kiel researchers is the time of flowering. "We're also thinking about growing quinoa in Central Europe," Dally said.
"But it is necessary to change the flowering time. Quinoa is a tropical plant adapted to short days. But with us it has to blossom in the long day. We have already identified the genes responsible for this and can now begin to look for advantageous gene variants in a worldwide quinoa assortment. "(Ad)