Here is not a research article ,it’s just we have done about quinoa breeding. It’s a practical activity more than technical project. I wish the reader can understand what I try to tell.
It’s our third year of doing quinoa crossing program. In the first year,it’s totally failure because we are doing crossing outside in the field and some rains make it rotten.
From last year,we are make a long term plan for breeding and we think crossing is the best way at this moment to reach our variety improvement aims.
By crossing we try to solve some problem in quinoa production:
1. Sprouting
2. Felling and brocken
3. Yield
4. Special quality such as high protein
In year 2016(2017),we finished 3 pair of match:
1. Real White(F)X Red Seed(M) ,we have grown the seeds in net protect greenhouses 10 plants F1 ,9 of them present with red panicle and seeds and 1 is failure with white seeds .
2. Real White(F)XBlack seed(M). There are 5 plants F1 and all with black seeds. 100% success!
3. White Seed(F)XDomain line(M) There are 3 plants F1 ,we have checked the seeds from F1,2 of them performance domain.
Crossing in 2017:
We have done 5 pairs of matching:
We have a pure line with high yield and big yellow seeds but easy to sprouting. We take it as female and by pollination with domain line,short line,and non-branching line.
The other 2 pairs are Short line as female and matched with domain, Real white X short line.
Till to now,We have harvest about 497 seeds of the crossing. And expected another 10 seeds within 10 days.
Some related photos of quinoa crossing:
Emasculation
Pollination with brush
Bagged with paper bag for a week
Keep the pollinated seed easy to identify
Crossing seed
Success Seeds
Discussion:
Thanks to the following article about quinoa crossing method ,we have learnt a lot theoretically and we try to copy the method they are applied. It seems our variety grow so fast that we have to wipped off other flowers(seeds) around the target one after pollination otherwise we can’t identify the one we crossed as you seen from our photos long stem with one seeds ,and the other problem is the flower can’t open evenly,at this moment we only can take the top flowerof the branch to crossat proper time. We are still studying the practical method for future crossing.Just attached the other method for reference. You are welcome to visit us.