biostudies-literatureLi XNational Natural Science Foundation of China15https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11226418biostudies-literatureUnknown65(1)Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, 2n = 4x = 36), a super pseudocereal crop, has been introduced into China nearly 60 years. Many excellent varieties have been developed through massive selection; however, few are developed through mutagenesis breeding. In this study, the 'Longli-4' variety, locally cultivated in Gansu province, Northwest China, was selected for experimentation. The grains of 'Longli-4' were treated with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) at a concentration of 0.8% for 8 h. Nine plants from independent M₂ families were randomly selected to investigate the mutagenesis effect of EMS on the quinoa genome. The results indicated that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) induced by EMS were unevenly distributed across all 18 chromosomes, with an average mutation frequency ofBotanical studiesGenomic variation induced by a low concentration of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) in quinoa 'Longli-4' variety.PMC1122641832271760Ran RLi XZhao PChen GCui XfalseGenomic variation induced by a low concentration of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) in quinoa 'Longli-4' variety.Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, 2n = 4x = 36), a super pseudocereal crop, has been introduced into China nearly 60 years. Many excellent varieties have been developed through massive selection; however, few are developed through mutagenesis breeding. In this study, the 'Longli-4' variety, locally cultivated in Gansu province, Northwest China, was selected for experimentation. The grains of 'Longli-4' were treated with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) at a concentration of 0.8% for 8 h. Nine plants from independent M₂ families were randomly selected to investigate the mutagenesis effect of EMS on the quinoa genome. The results indicated that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) induced by EMS were unevenly distributed across all 18 chromosomes, with an average mutation frequency of2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-05-29T09:56:19.328Z2025-04-04T12:21:41.742ZS-EPMC112264183896771110.1186/s40529-024-00427-x