Development of Advanced Mutant Lines of Native Grains through Radiation-induced Mutagenesis in Peru

Agriculture in the high Andean region of Peru is usually made under adverse conditions, with frequent drought and frost Abiotic factors and in impoverished soils and mostly oriented to auto subsistence production. The diets consumed in the highland usually contain various sources of dietary protein, among them a mixture of cereals (barley, wheat and maize) with native grains (quinoa and amaranth). This mixture has a high biological value because cereals provide amino acids and other nutritive compounds that are deficient in native grains and vice versa. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthuscaudatus) are native grains of the Andean region, very nutritious crops because of their content of all essential amino acids and their rich source of carbohydrate, lipids, minerals, vitamins, fiber and other biological health-promoting compounds [1-6]. The use of native grains is like leaf vegetable in the vegetative development stage and source of grains after harvesting. The native grains are a nonallergenic source of basic nutrients, as well as a food source for patients suffering from food intolerance (e.g. gluten enteropathy) [7]. These crops are well suited to marginal areas and are known to be tolerant to both drought and salinity. They have a potential to broaden the diversity of commercially grown crops and make an important contribution to food supplies in the near future when there will be water shortage or other Abiotic problems in Peru and the world due to climate change.