Tissue culture and genetic transformation in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)–a mini-review

Abstract Quinoa is considered a nutrient-rich crop with immense potential to address food security, particularly in challenging environments such as saline soils and drought. Extensive genetic resources and a reference genome exist, making it a model crop. However, breeding programs and biotechnological treatments are necessary to fully utilize quinoa as a model crop and expand quinoa agriculture, as it encounters challenges when grown outside its natural regions. To expand its use, breeding programs and biotechnological tools are needed. This review examines and summarizes the tissue culture and genetic transformation efforts for quinoa to enhance its agricultural potential. Since maintaining aseptic conditions in quinoa tissue culture is critical, most of the reviewed studies surface-sterilize using sodium hypochlorite and ethanol at concentrations and exposition times that do not affect germination. For in vitro seed germination, the studies have shown that different conditions—the strength of the growth medium, photoperiod, and temperature—result in relatively high success rates of seedling cultivation. Quinoa tissue culture methods also utilize various explants and hormones to induce specific plant responses, such as callus, shoot, or root formation. However, few studies used Agrobacterium for stable and transient genetic transformations, with limited success. The biggest challenge appears to be regeneration from tissue culture. Further methods, including tissue-culture-independent transformation methods, are discussed here to achieve genetic transformation in quinoa.