title: Worldwide Evaluations of Quinoa: Preliminary Results from Post International Year of Quinoa FAO Projects in Nine Countries.
abstract: Chenopodium quinoa Willd., a high quality grain crop, is resistant to abiotic stresses (drought, cold, and salt) and offers an optimal source of protein. Quinoa represents a symbol of crop genetic diversity across the Andean region. In recent years, this crop has undergone a major expansion outside its countries of origin. The activities carried out within the framework of the International Year of Quinoa provided a great contribution to raise awareness on the multiple benefits of quinoa as well as to its wider cultivation at the global level. FAO is actively involved in promoting and evaluating the cultivation of quinoa in 26 countries outside the Andean region with the aim to strengthen food and nutrition security. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the adaptability of selected quinoa genotypes under different environments outside the Andean region. This paper presents the preliminary results from nine countries. Field evaluations were conducted during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), and the Near East and North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Mauritania, and Yemen). In each country, the trials were carried out in different locations that globally represent the diversity of 19 agrarian systems under different agro-ecological conditions. Twenty-one genotypes of quinoa were tested using the same experimental protocol in all locations consisting in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Some genotypes showed higher yields and the Q18 and Q12 landraces displayed greater adaptation than others to new environmental conditions. The Q21 and Q26 landraces were evaluated with stable and satisfactory levels of yield (>1 t.ha(-1)) in each of the different trial sites. This production stability is of considerable importance especially under climate change uncertainty. While these results suggest that this Andean crop is able to grow in many different environments, social, and cultural considerations remain crucial regarding its possible introduction as a staple food in new cropping systems around the world.
authors.affiliation: Unité Propre de Recherche Gestion des Ressources Renouvelables et Environnement, Department of Environments and Societies, French Agricultural Research and International Cooperation Organization Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bazile
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean Ercolano, Italy.
authors.forename: Cataldo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pulvento
authors.affiliation: ESA-Ecole Supérieur d'Agriculture Angers, France.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verniau
authors.affiliation: General Seed Multiplication Cooperation, Agricultural Research and Extension Authority Dhamar, Yemen.
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Nusairi
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Recherche Agronomique et de Développement Agricole Kaedi, Mauritania.
authors.forename: Djibi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Breeding, Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute Zahlé, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breidy
authors.affiliation: Plant Production Department, Ministry of Agriculture Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: Layth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Plant Breeding, Forage and Range Research Program, Agricultural Research Corporation Khartoum North, Sudan.
authors.forename: Maarouf I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Seed Association of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek, Kyrgyz.
authors.forename: Omurbek
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mambetov
authors.affiliation: Seed Association of Tajikistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
authors.forename: Munira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otambekova
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Niaz Ali
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sepahvand
authors.affiliation: Crop Intensification Research Department, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.affiliation: Département Recherche Expérimentation, Institut Technique de Développement de l'Agronomie Saharienne Biskra, Algeria.
authors.forename: Djamel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Souici
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.affiliation: Bioversity International Maccarese, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padulosi
keywords: Chenopodium quinoa Willd.; adaptation; agrobiodiversity; agroecology; climate change; multi-local trials; plant genetic resources; seeds