VIKINGA

Quinoa

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'D407' and 'Titicaca'

Summary: The leaf of ‘VIKINGA' has an entire margin whereas the leaf of ‘Titicaca' has an undulate margin. The leaf margin of ‘VIKINGA' has a few indentations whereas the leaf margin of ‘D407' has many indentations and that of ‘Titicaca' has a medium number of indentations. The upper side of the leaf of ‘VIKINGA' has a weak degree of glaucosity whereas that of ‘Titicaca' has a medium degree of glaucosity. Flowering occurs earlier for the plants of ‘VIKINGA' than for those of ‘Titicaca' and later than those of ‘D407'. The inflorescence of ‘VIKINGA' is a glomerulate type whereas that of ‘Titicaca' is an amarantiform type. The panicles on the inflorescence of ‘VIKINGA' are less than 45 degrees in relation to the main axis whereas those of ‘D407' are greater than 45 degrees in relation to the main axis. At maturity, the seed head of ‘VIKINGA' is orange whereas that of ‘Titicaca' is light brown. The seed coat of ‘VIKINGA' is yellow whereas that of ‘D407' is light brown. Plant maturity occurs later for the plants of ‘VIKINGA' than for those of the reference varieties.

Description:

PLANT: weak tendency to branch, short at full flowering

LEAF: green, pigmentation of apex absent, widest part positioned in the middle, weak degree of glaucosity on upper side
LEAF MARGIN: entire, few indentations
PETIOLE: strong anthocyanin colouration

FLOWERING TIME: mid-season
INFLORESCENCE: glomerulate type, angle of panicles less than 45 degrees, medium length, medium number of female flowers per glomerule, bract smaller relative to utricle, orange seed head at maturity

SEED: discoid shape, yellow seed coat

Origin & Breeding History: ‘VIKINGA' (experimental designation Q124) originated from a mutation discovered in the ‘Titicaca' variety population grown at the Research Station of the University of Copenhagen, Taastrup Campus, in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1992. From 1993 to 2008, screening and selections were made from the F2 to the F16 generations at the KU Taasrup Campus based on maturity, saponin content and disease resistance. Over the course of at least 15 years, the line was increased and purified. Breeder seed production commenced in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2016.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial for ‘VIKINGA' was conducted in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba during the summer of 2021. There were 4 replicates per variety arranged in a RCB design. Plots measuring 6 square metres consisted of 4 rows measuring 5 metres in length with a row spacing of 18 centimetres. The seeding density resulted in at least 2000 plants per plot per variety. Results were supported by the UPOV report of Technical Examination, reference number 29681, purchased from TystofteFoundation in Skaelskor, Denmark. The trial was conducted by the TystofteFoundations' Department of Variety Testing (Afdeling for Sortsafprovning) in Skaelskor, Denmark, from 2014 to 2015.

Comparison table for 'VIKINGA' with reference varieties 'D407' and 'Titicaca'

Days to maturity (number of days from sowing to when 50% of the plants are dried on the upper third of the plant)

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Quinoa: ‘VIKINGA' (left) with reference varieties ‘D407' (centre) and ‘Titicaca' (right)

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Quinoa: ‘VIKINGA' (left) with reference varieties ‘D407' (centre) and ‘Titicaca' (right)