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Genetic Mapping Of A Bitter Saponin Gene In Quinoa, Ryan Rupper, P Jeff Maughan, Eric N. Jellen
Genetic Mapping Of A Bitter Saponin Gene In Quinoa, Ryan Rupper, P Jeff Maughan, Eric N. Jellen
Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2017
Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa) is a high protein grain crop originating in the Andes. Quinoa’s ability to grow in drought and high salt conditions and its protein profile make it a highly sought after crop for world food security. Varieties of quinoa may be bitter or sweet, depending on the whether the variety produces saponins or not. Saponins are soap-like molecules that are believed to protect the plant from birds, fungi and other micro-organisms. The anti-nutritional effects of saponins[1] on human means that they must be removed prior to human consumption. The process of desaponization is time consuming and requires specialized …