Resistance of three quinoa ecotypes (Chenopodium quinoa, Willdenow) to different levels of salinity at germination

Abstract

In the Bolivian altiplano there are few studies of salinity levels and how they affect quinoa, the greatest problem of salinity is manifested in the phenological stage of germination, studies carried out at the laboratory level indicate that when NaCl 400 mM is applied, germination is reduced by 53%, directly influencing the yield of quinoa, The objective of the present study is to determine which ecotype of quinoa is resistant to different levels of salinity in germination, in addition to evaluating what level of salinity quinoa can withstand in germination to improve the levels of yield at the field level. To achieve the objectives, the work was carried out in the seed laboratory of the Agronomy Department of the FCAN, using the ecotypes Kellu, Pinsankalla and Negra from the germplasm of origin of the intersalar zone, the medium used was water agar, in this study the levels of NaCl 0, 300, 400 and 500 Mm were varied, the variables considered for this study were germination percentage, radicle length and biomass. The result of this study is that the germination percentages decrease when the salt levels increase, quinoa decreases 25% of its germination at 300 mM, above this level the germination percentages decrease considerably, there is no significant difference in ecotypes this may be due to the fact that the three ecotypes are of the real line and produced on the shores of the Uyuni salt flat. The statistical test allows concluding that quinoa resists a maximum level of 300 mM NaCl.