Since 2016, at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) Department of Plant Industry, Professor Ching-Hsiang Hsieh and Asst. Professor Tzu Che Lin have been working together with two students, Ching-Nong Chiao and Chin-Song Wu, on interspecific hybridization of “quinoa” and “Taiwan quinoa” grains. Following six years of dedication, their efforts have paid off with a variety that has a sturdy stock, large grain size and high yield. Following a committee review on June 17, the new strain was named “PingTech No. 1” after the university that developed it. An application for variety rights is currently under evaluation.
Plant Industry Professor Emeritus Ching-Hsiang Hsieh said, “Aathough the process of breeding and experimental hybridization was arduous at the beginning, it was very moving to have the final harvest. I hope that through the joint efforts of the teachers and students, we can make a contribution to Taiwan’s agriculture while also cultivating more outstanding talent for the continuous improvement of the industry”. Assistant Professor Tzu Che Lin of the same department said: “The in-field cultivation process for the new Taiwan quinoa hybrid was very time-consuming and laborious, but step by step we made progress, and in the end the interspecific hybridization work gave birth to “PingTech No. 1”. I am very grateful to the team of teachers and students for the efforts they are making to innovate Taiwan’s grain crops”.
Quinoa originates from the Andes Mountains of South America and is an internationally-important grain crop. Both the Andean variety and Taiwan’s native species (“Taiwan Quinoa”) belong to the chenopodium genus. Taiwan Quinoa, commonly known as “red quinoa” or “djulis”, is a traditional food of the indigenous people of Taiwan. Due to its wide distribution, evolutionary forces have given the quinoa a complex genetic composition. Comparing the two varieties, the Andean quinoa has larger seeds and a short production time, while the Taiwan variety has the advantages not easily falling over, but its seeds are too small. The goal of the hybridization work was to increase the genetic diversity and select for the preferred traits. More than half a decade later, “PingkTech No. 1” has shown itself to stands strong with large seeds and a good yield –an excellent testament to the researchers’ diligence in the face of challenge.
For many years Taiwan’s self-sufficiency in certain grains has been relatively low. Its biggest shortfall is in the area of multigrain. Currently, in order to meet domestic needs, multigrain needs to be imported in large quantities from abroad. The birth of “Pingke No. 1” can help to remedy this problem while also corresponding to SDGs2: “hunger eradication”. Extreme weather conditions can greatly impact growing environments, the quality and supply of agricultural products, farmers’ incomes, and biodiversity—and can even endanger food security. As a long-established brand for agricultural research and education, NPUST is committed to mitigating conflicts between agricultural production and the environment, and is standing with farmers and the public as it works to create a safe and healthy future for the people of Taiwan.
