Silicon mitigates nutritional stress in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Abstract

Nutritional deficiency is common in several regions of quinoa cultivation. Silicon (Si) can attenuate the stress caused by nutritional deficiency, but studies on the effects of Si supply on quinoa plants are still scarce. Given this scenario, our objective was to evaluate the symptoms in terms of tissue, physiological and nutritional effects of quinoa plants submitted to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) deficiencies under Si presence. The experiment consisted of a factorial scheme 6 × 2, using a complete solution (CS), -N, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg combined with absence and presence of Si (1.5 mmol L−1). Symptomatic, physiological, nutritional and evaluation vegetative were performed in quinoa crop. The deficiencies of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in quinoa cultivation caused visual symptoms characteristic of the deficiency caused by respective nutrients, hence decreasing the plant dry mass. However, Si supply attenuated the deficiency effects by preserving the photosynthetic apparatus, increasing the chlorophyll production, increasing the membrane integrity, and decreasing the electrolyte leakage. Thus, the Si supply attenuated the visual effects provided by deficiency of all nutrients, but stood out for N and Ca, because it reflected in a higher dry mass production. This occurred because, the Si promoted higher synthesis and protection of chlorophylls, and lower electrolyte leakage under Ca restriction, as well as decreased electrolyte leakage under N restriction.

Forms of application of silicon in quinoa and benefits involved in the association between productivity with grain biofortification

“…1 b), especially in the treatment combining application of Si via nutrient solution and foliar spraying [Si(F + R)] at the concentration of 3 mmol L −1 , which stood out in relation to the other treatments, although the foliar application was statistically different from the control. Therefore, it is evident from this information that quinoa accumulates intermediate levels of Si, which agrees with previous studies 20 , 23 . This result proves part of the first hypothesis raised in this study, indicating that the foliar application of Si, in association with the roots can enable a higher Si absorption in this plant species.…”

“…The benefit of Si in increasing N uptake was reported in sugarcane 17 , and of P in wheat crops 18 , which can be explained by the fact that Si acts in the regulation of photosynthesis and transpiration, and it increases the expression of genes related to nutrient transporters in cellular membranes. It was also reported that Si supply in quinoa plants attenuated the effects of N and P deficiency by preserving the photosynthetic apparatus and decreasing the electrolyte leakage 23 . In this context, future studies at the molecular level should be conducted to further understand the potential role of Si in the regulation of important physiological processes in quinoa, such as the processes of N and P uptake, nutrient uptake by the plant and impacts on grains.…”

Silicon mitigates nutritional stress of nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium deficiency in two forages plants

“…Marandu and M. maximum cv Massai. However, further studies have demonstrated it in other grasses such as sorghum 22 , cucumber 24 , snap bean 54 , and quinoa 55 .…”

Avaliação da qualidade proteica, peso de órgãos e comprimento da tíbia e animais experimentais alimentados com quinoa (Chenopodium, quinoa)

“…10,11 Outra característica interessante da quinoa é a ausência de glúten em sua composição, característica importante para tratamento da doença celíaca. 2,12 A doença celíaca (DC) é uma enteropatia imuno-mediada que ocorre pela ingestão do glúten em indivíduos geneticamente susceptíveis. A porção antigênica da proteína do glúten para os pacientes celíacos é predominantemente a gliadina do trigo, que apresenta alto teor dos aminoácidos glutamina e prolina, bem como a hordeína da cevada e a secalina do centeio.…”

“…Assim, a quinoa é uma excelente opção para pessoas portadoras dessa doença. 12 Outra vantagem da proteína da quinoa é que ela apresenta algumas características desejáveis do ponto de vista de processamento de alimentos, já que possui adequada propriedade de gelatinização, capacidade de absorção de água e de emulsificação, além da estabilidade (resistência à retrogradação). [1][2][3][5][6][7] Estes são aspectos muito interessantes para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos, inclusive da elaboração de produtos para indivíduos portadores de doença celíaca, já que o maior problema da substituição dos cereais que contêm glúten por outras matérias-primas que não o contêm é a ausência dessas características.…”