Transcriptional Regulation of Quinoa Seed Quality: Identification of Novel Candidate Genetic Markers for Increased Protein Content

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a crop that has great potential for increased cultivation in diverse climate regions. The seed protein quality obtained from this crop is high concerning the requirements to meet human nutritional needs, but the seed protein content is relatively low if compared to crops such as grain legumes. Increased seed protein content is desirable for increasing the economic viability of this crop in order for it to be used as a protein crop. In this study, we characterized three genotypes of quinoa with different levels of seed protein content. By performing RNA sequencing of developing seeds, we determined the genotype differences in gene expression and identified genetic polymorphisms that could be associated with increased protein content. Storage nutrient analyses of seeds of three quinoa genotypes (Titicaca, Pasankalla, and Regalona) from different ecoregions grown under controlled climate conditions showed that Pasankalla had the highest protein content (20%) and the lowest starch content (46%). Our seed transcriptome analyses revealed highly differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in Pasankalla as compared to the other genotypes. These DETs encoded functions in sugar transport, starch and protein synthesis, genes regulating embryo size, and seed transcription factors. We selected 60 genes that encode functions in the central carbon metabolism and transcription factors as potential targets for the development of high-precision markers. Genetic polymorphisms, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and base insertions and deletions (InDels), were found in 19 of the 60 selected genes, which can be further evaluated for the development of genetic markers for high seed protein content in quinoa. Increased cultivation of quinoa can contribute to a more diversified agriculture and support the plant protein diet shift. The identification of quinoa genotypes with contrasting seed quality can help establish a model system that can be used for the identification of precise breeding targets to improve the seed quality of quinoa. The data presented in this study based on nutrient and transcriptome analyses contribute to an enhanced understanding of the genetic regulation of seed quality traits in quinoa and suggest high-precision candidate markers for such traits

Long-term effect of manure and mineral fertilizer application rate on maize yield and accumulated nutrients use efficiencies in north china plain

Overuse of mineral fertilizer has become common at the North China Plain. Simultaneously, more organic manure resources are available for smallholder farmers. In order to increase the use of organic manure and reduce mineral fertilizer applications, a 10-year fertilization experiment with maize took place between 2008 and 2017. We assessed the long-term effects of cattle manure (CM) application and a complete nutrient substitution with mineral fertilizer (MF) at four application levels (3, 6, 9 and 12 t ha-1 CM) on yield, macronutrients (N, P and K) use efficiencies and soil conditions. Results showed that maize yields from CM and MF treatments differed across time and were significantly different in the first year of the experiment to no significant differences with increasing experimental time. In addition, increased MF levels did not result in increased maize yields; this response was different with CM applications. The highest 10-year maize average yield was 7.7 t ha-1 obtained with 9 t ha-1 of CM. Our results also showed that at the lowest application level (3 t ha-1 CM), the partial factor productivity (PFP) and the agronomic efficiency (AE) of all macronutrients were significantly higher with MF than with CM applications. Nevertheless, these differences narrowed with increased fertilizer input levels. The MF and CM recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P and K performed differently. Generally, MF exhibited significantly higher N-RE than CM treatments. CM treatments had significantly higher P-RE, but no K-RE differences were found between CM and MF. Soil available N, P and K significantly increased when fertilizer levels raised. MF treatments exhibited similar levels of soil available N, but lower soil available P and K compared with CM treatments

Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats

In an effort to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases in animals and people, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) PREDICT project funded development of regional, national, and local One Health capacities for early disease detection, rapid response, disease control, and risk reduction. From the outset, the EPT approach was inclusive of social science research methods designed to understand the contexts and behaviors of communities living and working at human-animal-environment interfaces considered high-risk for virus emergence. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, PREDICT behavioral research aimed to identify and assess a range of socio-cultural behaviors that could be influential in zoonotic disease emergence, amplification, and transmission. This broad approach to behavioral risk characterization enabled us to identify and characterize human activities that could be linked to the transmission dynamics of new and emerging viruses. This paper provides a discussion of implementation of a social science approach within a zoonotic surveillance framework. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews and focus groups to better understand the individual- and community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices that potentially put participants at risk for zoonotic disease transmission from the animals they live and work with, across 6 interface domains. When we asked highly-exposed individuals (ie. bushmeat hunters, wildlife or guano farmers) about the risk they perceived in their occupational activities, most did not perceive it to be risky, whether because it was normalized by years (or generations) of doing such an activity, or due to lack of information about potential risks. Integrating the social sciences allows investigations of the specific human activities that are hypothesized to drive disease emergence, amplification, and transmission, in order to better substantiate behavioral disease drivers, along with the social dimensions of infection and transmission dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is critical to achieving health security--the protection from threats to health-- which requires investments in both collective and individual health security. Involving behavioral sciences into zoonotic disease surveillance allowed us to push toward fuller community integration and engagement and toward dialogue and implementation of recommendations for disease prevention and improved health security

Defoliation timing for optimal leaf nutrition in dual-use amaranth production systems

BACKGROUND: Amaranth leaves can provide important nutrients to small-scale farming families growing amaranth for seed. Amaranth is known to be tolerant to defoliation, but there is little guidance on when defoliation should be performed for optimal nutritional benefits. This series of experiments assessed tolerance to defoliation at different points throughout the vegetative stage of development, in addition to the nutritional benefits and flavor of amaranth leaves at each stage. RESULTS: Overall, timing of defoliation had no impact on seed yield or quality. Fifty percent defoliation at any point did not significantly reduce seed yield, whereas 100% defoliation throughout development reduced seed yield. The nutritional value of amaranth leaves differed substantially throughout development, with the highest concentrations of iron mid-way through vegetative development, and the highest levels of vitamin A, magnesium, and copper at the end of the vegetative development stage. Palatability was highest in young leaves, and decreased as plants aged. We also found that neither timing nor intensity of defoliation had an influence on branching, which can negatively influence ease of harvest. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that amaranth leaves are a nutritious food source that provides vital nutrients at different concentrations throughout development. Farmers who wish to harvest both leaves and seeds can harvest up to 50% of the leaves at any point during vegetative development or bud formation while maintaining seed yield. Leaf harvest timing can thus be tailored to nutritional needs, although palatability decreases with plant age. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Chapter 7 - Ethnobotany of Andean root crops: tradition and innovation—Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.), Yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob.), Mauka (Mirabilis expansa (Ruíz & Pav.) Standl.), Ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa Parodi), Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.), Achira (Canna indica L.)

Andean root crops encompass six species domesticated and cultivated since ancient times for their edible underground parts in the Andean region. Once considered neglected or only maintained in the rural areas, two of them have recently made an incursion into the global market for nutraceuticals and functional foods. However, the rest are still little known, and some are possibly endangered by extinction. This review reports on traditional uses made of these crops as well as the latest evidence available on their beneficial properties, complemented with field observations of the crops and their uses in Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia

Chapter 6 - Ethnobotany of Andean minor tuber crops: tradition and innovation—Oca (Oxalis tuberosa Molina—Oxalidaceae), Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruíz & Pav.—Tropaeoleaceae) and Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus Caldas—Basellaceae)

Andean minor tuber crops are plants domesticated and cultivated since ancient times for their edible underground parts in the Andean region. This review describes the botanical and agronomic features of Oxalis tuberosa, Tropaeolum tuberosum, and Ullucus tuberosus and reports their traditional and new uses, including the latest evidence available on their beneficial properties, complemented with observations from Peru and Bolivia. Oca has good potential to be promoted on the market for its fresh or transformed consumption, while a new promising industrial application of ulluco is the extraction of its betalains to be used as natural food colorants. Finally, mashua, for its high contents of antioxidants and anticarcinogenic properties, is highly relevant to the nutraceutical sector. The use of the three crops in gourmet restaurants of the Andean region has increased notably during the last decade, which suggests that their demand might increase in the future as they become more popular

Global expansion of quinoa and challenges for the Andean region

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd.) is an Andean grain crop recognized as an ally for global food security due to its high nutritional value. However, quinoa globalization entails challenges to the countries of origin. Farmers face a scenario of new concerns and competitors. In 2018, quinoa was present for research and production in 123 countries. Although 74% of global exports are still supplied by Peru and Bolivia, production outside the Andes is increasing. In addition, producer prices collapsed in 2015 while yields remained unstable, averaging 0.4–1.1 t ha−1. Understanding the reality of the new quinoa situation is fundamental to face the challenges of encouraging local biodiversity, promoting market diversification and cooperating with inclusive processes towards equitable benefits

Global expansion of quinoa and challenges for the Andean region

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd.) is an Andean grain crop recognized as an ally for global food security due to its high nutritional value. However, quinoa globalization entails challenges to the countries of origin. Farmers face a scenario of new concerns and competitors. In 2018, quinoa was present for research and production in 123 countries. Although 74% of global exports are still supplied by Peru and Bolivia, production outside the Andes is increasing. In addition, producer prices collapsed in 2015 while yields remained unstable, averaging 0.4–1.1 t ha−1. Understanding the reality of the new quinoa situation is fundamental to face the challenges of encouraging local biodiversity, promoting market diversification and cooperating with inclusive processes towards equitable benefits