Yield potential and salt tolerance of quinoa on salt‐degraded soils of Pakistan

Abstract

Quinoa is recently introduced to Pakistan as a salt‐tolerant crop of high nutritional value. Open field trials were conducted to evaluate its performance on normal and salinity/sodicity‐degraded lands at two locations of different salinity/sodicity levels, S1 (UAF Farm, Normal Soil), S2 (Paroka Farm UAF, saline sodic), S3 (SSRI Farm, normal) and S4 (SSRI Farm, saline sodic) during 2013–2014. Two genotypes (Q‐2 and Q‐7) were grown in lines and were allowed to grow till maturity under RCBD split‐plot arrangement. Maximum seed yield (3,062 kg/ha) was achieved by Q‐7 at normal field (S1) soil which was statistically similar with yield of same genotype obtained from salt‐affected field S2 (2,870 kg/ha). Furthermore, low yield was seen from both genotypes from both S3 and S4 as compared to S1 and S2. Q‐7 was best under all four conditions. Minimum yield was recorded from Q‐2 (1,587 kg/ha) at S4. Q‐7 had higher SOD, proline, phenolic and K+ contents, and lower Na+ content in leaves as compared to Q‐2. High levels of antioxidants and K+/Na+ of Q‐7 helped to withstand salt stress and might be the cause of higher yields under both normal and salt‐affected soils. Seed quality (mineral and protein) did not decrease considerably under salt‐affected soils even improved seed K+, Mg2+ and Mn2+.

Soil drenching of paclobutrazol: An efficient way to improve quinoa performance under salinity

“…Among these, lipid peroxidation particularly is considered more drastic because of its free radicals propagation by chain reaction (Farmer and Mueller ). However, quinoa plants activate antioxidative system (SOD, POD, CAT, APX) to reduce these damages (Amjad et al , Iqbal et al ), which is also observed in the present study under salinity (Fig. and Table ).…”

Effect of Salinity Stress on Various Growth and Physiological Attributes of Two Contrasting Maize Genotypes

“…Leaf photosynthesis can be lowered by the reduction of stomatal conductance as a result of water imbalance under salt stress [25]. The rate of photosynthesis in salt-tolerant species generally has been least affected than that in salt-sensitive species [9]. Whereas, in the present study, both varieties exhibited a similar level of photosynthetic attributes indicating that the difference of resistance of Sahiwal-2002 and Sadaf may not be directly related to these attributes.…”

“…The salt causes the wilting of the leaves even when the much moisture (or water content) is present and the leaves become dull and having gray leaf tips. The salinity causes also adverse effects in the form of physiological dysfunctions and a decrease in the yield of a crop [8,9].…”

Ecophysiology and Uses of Halophytes in Diverse Habitats

“…Not all studies concern varieties grown in Chile, as quinoa has recently been introduced to Pakistan (eminently agricultural country and subjected to adverse weather conditions). For example, Iqbal et al (2019) have observed that most tolerant genotypes had higher SOD (superoxide dismutase), the antioxidant enzyme that lowers ROS levels, proline (an osmolyte), phenols (antioxidants), K + contents, and Na + content in the shoot as compared to more sensitive genotypes. High levels of antioxidants and K + /Na + of resistant genotype provide greater tolerance to saline stress and might offer higher yields in both normal and salt-affected soils.…”