Morpho-physiological characterization and standardization of agronomic practices of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) for salt affected ecosystems

Abstract

To explore the possibility of natural salt tolerance of quinoa in Indian conditions, a pot experiment was conducted with 13 germplasm (11 acquired from NBPGR and 2 local collections) under four levels (0, 8, 16 and 24 dS/m) of irrigation water salinity during winter season of 2017-18. The various germplasm showed variable response with respect to growth and physiological parameters studied. The SPAD meter readings of different germplasm ranged from 43.7 to 53.7 across the salinity environments and no significant difference was observed between control and 8 dS/m treatments. But SPAD readings increased significantly further at 16 and 24 dS/m irrigation water treatments over control and 8 dS/m treatments. The salinity stress significantly increased the proline content in quinoa leaves and the highest value (163.7 µg/g FW) was observed in germplasm G13 with 24 dS/m salinity. Plant height of quinoa germplasm varied from 88.4 to 102 cm at the time of maturity. The increasing levels of salinity significantly reduced the plant height of all the quinoa germplasm which was 17.2, 28.1 and 47.3 per cent lower as compared to control treatment. The no. of branches/plant in quinoa varied between 20.3 to 24.1 per plant. The effect of saline water on branches per plant was less profound than plant height as increasing levels of salinity reduced the no. of branches/plant by 11.6, 16.2 and 28.0 per cent than control. The germplasm G10 registered significantly maximum grain yield of 9.35 g/plant closely followed by G13 (9.21 g/plant). While at highest levels of salinity (24.0 dS/m), the germplasm G10 recorded maximum grain yield (5.02 g/plant) followed by G13 (4.69 g/plant).