Assessment of Growth and Physiological Traits of Chenopodium quinoa Lines Under Different Salt Levels

Abstract

C henopodium quinoa (Willd.) is cultivated mainly for its edible grains, is considered as one of the crops that may be able to maintain food security in this century due to its remarkable nutritional qualities, such as a high protein content, fiber, lipids, free of gluten, having considerable amount of fatty-acids, Abstract | Elevating salinity level has become a worldwide threat to agricultural lands. High level concentration of salts hampers growth of plants and its yield of biomass by impacting major physiological mechanisms i.e., ionic, oxidative and osmotic stress. One possible and climate resilient strategy is to introduce new crops that can bear high level salinity and allow irrigation with saline water. Quinoa has great potential to grow under saline conditions having outstanding nutritious value. Pot based complete block design was conducted in COMSATS University Abbottabad, Pakistan during winter season. Five quinoa lines (L30, L81, L11, L9, and L24) were grown in sandy loam soil containing 15 dS m -1 and 30dS m -1 NaCl salt treatments. The results revealed that better growth was noticed in line L30 and L24 under 15 and 30 dSm -1 NaCl Salt treatments as compared to other three lines. Whereas, minimum plant growth was noticed in genotype L9 and L81 under 15 and 30 dSm -1 NaCl salt treatments. Highest leaf area, chlorophyll contents, and protein contents were noted in all condition in line L30 and L24 as compared other lines. High levels of potassium, calcium and magnesium and lowest sodium were noted in quinoa lines L30 and L24 aided in resisting salt stress and may be the cause of increased growth in both saline and non-saline soil. The present trial recognised the maximum salt-tolerant lines under severe salt stress, it might be applied to improve quinoa's tolerance to salt in a later breeding phase.