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Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is an Andean pseudocereal produced in countries such as Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and southern Colombia, with more than 3,000 varieties, distinguished by their nutritional properties and adaptation to different agro-ecological zones. Quinoa's nutritional profile stands out for its protein, carbohydrate, lipid and gluten-free content; it is rich in vitamins; and it is an excellent source of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. It is one of the few foods that have in its composition all the essential amino acids, standing out from other cereals such as rice or wheat. It is an excellent source of bioactive compounds, which have antioxidant, cytotoxic, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. With respect to quinoa leaves, several studies have indicated that they have higher protein content than grains, as well as inorganic nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. In addition, they can potentially serve as a rich source of phenolic compounds and carotenoids. Conventional heat treatments greatly or slightly affect the composition of the food, including bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity. Germination provides the product with greater bioavailability and an increase in bioactive compounds. The purpose of this work was to document research on quinoa and its leaves, the effect of thermal treatments and germination on its bioactive compounds, in order to promote the creation and innovation of products based on its bioactive compounds, thus combating malnutrition in our population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an ancestral species from the Andean region, which is considered as a staple food for its populations. In Colombia, the crop has been gaining economic importance despite little information related to the varietal purity of cultivated materials. The department of Boyacá has a diversity of quinoas with potential for use, which can be an alternative for more productive crops. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the yield and phenological aspects of 30 quinoa genetic materials in Boyacá and establish a selection index to differentiate them according to their yield. It was determined that the phenological cycle of the 30 genetic materials ranged between 144 and 189 days, the estimation of the yield components showed that the variables that contributed the most to the observed phenotypic variation were the panicle length, yield, seed diameter, and weight of 1000 seeds. Through the selection index, it was determined that the materials Quinua Primavera, Amarilla de Maranganí and Quinua Peruana, have the potential to increase productivity, since they present high yield, semi-late phenological cycle, large grain size and weight of 1000 seeds between 0.3 and 0.4 g. This research showed that phenotypic variables can be useful for the design of selection tools, oriented to the characteristics of agronomic importance and determined their usefulness to increase the efficiency of quinoa improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is an ancestral crop in the Andean region, characterized by its adaptability to different agroclimatic conditions, great nutritional value, and broad genetic variability. A preliminary approach for understanding the genetics of quinoa materials entails a morphologic characterization, which can provide the basis for the selection of materials that satisfy the needs of farmers and consumers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic characteristics of thirty genetic C. quinoa accessions for the selection of outstanding accessions in terms of yield and grain quality. A randomized complete block design was used, with nine replications for each accession under greenhouse conditions. Nine quantitative and twelve qualitative descriptors were evaluated with descriptive analysis, Spearman correlation variance, and multivariate and cluster analysis. The results showed that the accessions with heights greater than the average (>176.72 cm) and long panicles (>57.94 cm) presented lower yields and smaller seed sizes, thus decreasing the grain quality. The multivariate and cluster analyses established groups of accessions with good yields (>62.02 g of seeds per plant) and stable morphological characteristics. The proposed selection index, based on yield components and morphological descriptors, indicated four accessions as potential parents for quinoa breeding programs in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]