New Quinoa Disease (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.) in Tropicalized and not Tropicalized Quinoa Crops in the Tropical Region of Cochabamba, Bolivia

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is traditionally cultivated in the Bolivia and Peru Andean region. In Bolivia, it is mainly cultivated in the southern, central and northern altiplano highlands (3800 masl). In recent years, research has been done on the tropicalization of this crop to introduce it to tropical regions of Bolivia for export purposes. In 2024, quinoa was planted in a location in the tropical Chapare (250 masl) Cochabamba region, a tropicalized variety (UAGRM-FINE) and another non-tropicalized variety from the Altiplano. In the fruiting and grain filling phenological phase, a disease occurred affecting both varieties, although with a higher incidence in the nontropicalized variety. After laboratory observation in a lactophenol solution, its morphological characteristics as conidiophore and conidia are coincident with the Periconia sp description. In conclusion, it is a new quinoa disease that affects tropicalized and non-tropicalized varieties in Bolivia.