成果の概要

Our Project aims to develop early maturing quinoa which could improve its resilience to climate change in the Bolivian Altiplano (4,000 MASL) by providing an escape mechanism to short rainfall and prolonged drought period, and seasonal low temperature (winter frost), that occur in late sowing and/or late-maturing type cultivation. I, therefore, traveled to Bolivia (from Oct4 to Nov 4, 2023) to conduct field experiments in the PROINPA Research Station aiming to identify Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) associated to early maturity. Since the drought incidence is becoming very problematic for crop sowing in the region, we have set a drip irrigation system in the experiment plots (to secure water supply using the limited amount of available water). Afterwards, we sowed seeds of breeding lines of three crossing populations. These populations are derived from local parents with contrasting maturity dates, and other agronomic traits. It was a good chance to exchange ideas and work together with the Project members.