Quinoa genome sequenced

Abstract

Scientists have produced the first high-quality genomic sequence for the South American super grain quinoa, a feat that may lead to improvements in the grain’s properties and the expansion of its cultivation worldwide (Nature 2017, DOI: 10.1038/nature21370). First domesticated in the Andes about 7,000 years ago, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) has recently come into vogue as a nutritional powerhouse with its high quantities of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The United Nations even proclaimed 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa. But despite its potential as a significant food source for an expanding world population, the lack of knowledge about its genetic makeup has hindered its widespread cultivation. A large international team led by Mark Tester, professor of plant science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), mapped out the plant’s complex, 1.5-gigabase genome using a number of sequencing strategies, including single-molecule real-time sequencing, as well as optical and