3 new quinoa varieties with edible leaves being tested in Rwanda

For the productive and cost-effective cultivation of the oldest pseudo-grain crop in different countries, varieties with adaptation to local conditions are needed, breeders say. Three new quinoa varieties jointly developed by breeders from Washington State University (WSU) and Brigham Young University (BYU) are being field tested in Rwanda and several other African countries, Seth Truscott said in a WSU release. Quinoa grain is rich in protein, B vitamins, minerals and fiber. “Quogar, Shisha and Gikungu are the top three varieties of the 1,000 lines that were in the Brigham Young University collection,” said Kevin Murphy, director of WSU's Sustainable Seed Systems Laboratory. Tall, colorful and productive, the new three varieties not only have lots of seeds, but also edible vitamin leaves. The Cougar variety, named after the mountain lion, the mascot of both universities, stands out for its bright combination of purple flowers gathered in clusters and rich green leaves. Variety ...