Quinoa is an ancestral crop in the Andean region, characterized by its adaptability to different agroclimatic conditions, great nutritional value, and broad genetic variability. A preliminary approach for understanding the genetics of quinoa materials entails a morphologic characterization, which can provide the basis for the selection of materials that satisfy the needs of farmers and consumers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic characteristics of thirty genetic C. quinoa accessions for the selection of outstanding accessions in terms of yield and grain quality. A randomized complete block design was used, with nine replications for each accession under greenhouse conditions. Nine quantitative and twelve qualitative descriptors were evaluated with descriptive analysis, Spearman correlation variance, and multivariate and cluster analysis. The results showed that the accessions with heights greater than the average (>176.72 cm) and long panicles (>57.94 cm) presented lower yields and smaller seed sizes, thus decreasing the grain quality. The multivariate and cluster analyses established groups of accessions with good yields (>62.02 g of seeds per plant) and stable morphological characteristics. The proposed selection index, based on yield components and morphological descriptors, indicated four accessions as potential parents for quinoa breeding programs in Colombia.

Quinoa has a high nutraceutical potential because of the presence of secondary metabolites called saponins, which have industrial and medicinal uses and protect against attacks by pathogens. These compounds are found especially in the seed coat and give the grain a bitter taste; therefore, they must be eliminated before consumption. Despite the potential use in Colombia, there are few studies aimed at quantifying this metabolite. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate two extraction methodologies (physical and chemical) and two methods for quantifying saponins in five quinoa genotypes grown in Colombia. The most efficient extraction method was the physical method. The saponin contents of the five genotypes were variable. The cluster analysis differentiated the genotypes into two groups: low saponin content (14.76 mg/g seeds). Blanca de Jericó had the lowest saponin content (0.18%). Identifying more efficient methodologies for extracting and quantifying saponins will allow a better characterization of the germplasm and selection of genotypes with desirable characteristics for both consumption and industrial use.

Yellow pitahaya is an exotic fruit that is rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants. In Colombia, it grows naturally in warm areas, but it is not clear which species exist because this genus presents a lot of intra and interspecific hybridization. More studies are needed in this field along with characterizations of the genotypes. This study aimed to undertake an in situ morphoagronomic evaluation of yellow pitahaya genotypes from five municipalities in Boyacá, Colombia. Measurements were taken in a completely random design. Qualitative and quantitative descriptors for cladodes, fruits and covered production systems were evaluated with a descriptive analysis, Spearman correlation variance, and multivariate and cluster analysis. The results showed that cladode characteristics such as cladode width, distance between areoles, number of spines, length of areoles, margin ribs of cladode and waxiness could be used to identify Megalanthus spp. Characteristics such as weight (270–274 g), size (100 mm), color of the fruit and pulp as well as acidity (0.18) and soluble solids (15.7) were highly variable between the genotypes. Genotypes with good morphological and fruit characteristics were identified (Gen2 and Gen9), which can provide the bases for the selection of pitahaya that satisfy the needs of farmers and consumers.

Selenicereus megalanthus is a native fruit tree with broad phenotypic variations that has not been characterized. The objective of this research was to morphoagronomically evaluate yellow pitahaya genotypes in open fields and under cover in the municipality of Miraflores, Boyacá. A diagnostic census of the productive system was carried out. The morphoagronomic characterization used a completely random design with qualitative and quantitative descriptors for fruits and cladodes taken in situ and analyzed with frequency, descriptive, multivariate, conglomerate, and sperm correlation analyses. The pitahaya production system was based on empirical practices carried out by farmers. The weight of the largest fruit in open fields was 219.04 g on average; the average was 186.48 g with the covered system. The open-field systems had the largest genotypes in all the dimensions (length and width). The covered systems had the highest number of fruits per cladode (3.70) and the longest cladodes in the entire study (121.24 cm). Both production systems showed similar values for titratable acidity (0.20), and the soluble solids values were slightly higher in the open-field system than in the covered system (15.20 and 14.66 °Brix, respectively), desirable characteristics for the market. Genotypes 7 (under cover) and 3 (open field) presented outstanding morphological and agronomic characteristics. This study identified genotypes that can be included in selection programs for yellow pitahaya in Miraflores, Colombia.