FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF DOWNY MILDEW ON QUINOA (PERONOSPORA FARINOSA F. SP. CHENOPODII) IN ROMANIA: PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

With the expansion of quinoa cultivation (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) into new areas, including Romania, it is expected that specific diseases will emerge. Currently, downy mildew is the most significant and studied disease affecting quinoa worldwide. This research was conducted in the experimental fields of the UASVM of Bucharest, under the climatic conditions of the 2024 growing season. Two quinoa varieties, supplied by Quinoa Quality ApS, Denmark, were evaluated for their response to the pathogen Peronospora farinosa f. sp. chenopodii. The first detection of downy mildew in quinoa in our country provides an important update to phytopathological research on this crop, which offers numerous economic advantages in the current climate context. The characteristic symptoms of the disease caused by the pathogen Peronospora farinosa f. sp. chenopodii are described. Vikinga was susceptible to downy mildew (AD 6.6%), while Puno showed an insignificant degree of leaf infection (AD 0.65%).