Agro-Morphological, Yield and Quality Traits and Interrelationship with Yield Stability in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Genotypes under Saline Marginal Environment

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a halophytic crop that shows resistance to multiple abiotic stresses, including salinity. In this study we investigated the salinity tolerance mechanisms of six contrasting quinoa cultivars belonging to the coastal region of Chile using agro-physiological parameters (plant height (PH), number of branches/plant (BN), number of panicles/plant (PN), panicle length (PL), biochemical traits (leaf C%, leaf N%, grain protein contents); harvest index and yield (seed yield and plant dry biomass (PDM) under three salinity levels (0, 10, and 20 d Sm−1 NaCl). The yield stability was evaluated through comparision of seed yield characteristics [(static environmental variance (S2) and dynamic Wricke’s ecovalence (W2)]. Results showed that significant variations existed in agro-morphological and yield attributes. With increasing salinity levels, yield contributing parameters (number of panicles and panicle length) decreased. Salt stress reduced the leaf carbon and nitrogen contents. Genotypes Q21, and AMES13761 showed higher seed yield (2.30 t ha−1), more productivity and stability at various salinities as compared to the other genotypes. Salinity reduced seed yield to 44.48% and 60% at lower (10 dS m−1) and higher salinity (20 dS m−1), respectively. Grain protein content was highest in NSL106398 and lowest in Q29 when treated with saline water. Seed yield was positively correlated with PH, TB, HI, and C%. Significant and negative correlations were observed between N%, protein contents and seed yield. PH showed significant positive correlation with APL, HI, C% and C:N ratio. HI displayed positive correlations with C%, N% and protein content., All measured plant traits, except for C:N ratio, responded to salt in a genotype-specific way. Our results indicate that the genotypes (Q21 and AMES13761) proved their suitability under sandy desert soils of Dubai, UAE as they exhibited higher seed yield while NSL106398 showed an higher seed protein content. The present research highlights the need to preserve quinoa biodiversity for a better seedling establishment, survival and stable yield in the sandy desertic UAE environment.

Phenotypic diversity of agromorphological characteristics of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) germplasm in Colombia

“…Panicle lengths between 22 and 40 cm have been reported (Lopez et al, 2012) and, in this study, we found panicles between 12 and 45.6 cm in length. Studies have shown a strong correlation between the panicle diameter and yield (Hussain et al, 2020). Panicle diameters in this study ranged from 7.5 to 38.2 cm, which corroborates Morillo et al (2020) in the study on the intrapopulation phenotypic variation in the material cultivated of Boyacá, Piartal, where a high diversity was found at the interindividual level, mainly in length, diameter, and color of the panicle.…”

Weed pressure determines the chemical profile of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its allelochemicals potential

“…64 Allelochemicals exert their phytotoxic effects through different pathways, and the biological activity on the target weeds also varies from one weed to another. 5,43,65 Allelochemicals can be considered an important part of ecological weed management, but it is necessary to understand the class of allelochemicals and their possible mechanisms of action. 5 In the present study, we quantified the polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids) and hydroxamic acids and their subsequent distribution in plant tissues (roots and shoots) as well as from the root rhizosphere.…”

Assessment of Phenotypic Diversity in the USDA Collection of Quinoa Links Genotypic Adaptation to Germplasm Origin

“…The results of this study show the first phenotyping assessment carried out on a comprehensive set of quinoa accessions from the USDA germplasm collection accounting for yield and its components. This collection was the basis of several adaptations and breeding programs internationally and, as such, made a highly significant contribution to the global expansion of this crop [ 17 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. According to our results, the environment contributed to phenotypic variation in most traits ( Table 1 ); however, their magnitude was relatively low compared with contributions of G and G × E effects.…”