Exogenous Application of Biostimulants and Synthetic Growth Promoters Improved the Productivity and Grain Quality of Quinoa Linked with Enhanced Photosynthetic Pigments and Metabolomics

Sohail Irshad,Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi,Shahbaz Khan,Freddy Mora-Poblete,Muhammad Kamran,Abdul Wahid,Sunny Ahmar,Mohamed S Elshikh,Nabila Rashid,Danish Ibrar,Saqib Bashir,Zuhair Hasnain

doi:10.3390/agronomy11112302

Abstract

Modern agriculture is mainly concerned with maximum resource use efficiency linked with greater productivity to feed the growing global population. The exogenous application of biostimulants is considered a sustainable approach to improve the growth and productivity of field crops. The present study was carried out to explore the comparative impact of biostimulants and synthetic compounds on quinoa crop (cultivar UAF-Q7), as it has gained significant popularity among agricultural scientists and farmers throughout the world, due to its high nutritional profile. A two-year field experiment was carried out at the Research Area of Directorate of Farms, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Application of moringa leaf extract (MLE) produced the maximum total chlorophyll (5.11 mg g−1) and carotenoids (1.2 mg g−1), compared with the control. Antioxidants’ activities and gas exchange attributes were also recorded as the highest following MLE application. Mineral elements in root and in shoot were found highest in response to MLE application. Similarly, application of MLE significantly improved the growth and yield attributes of quinoa. Mineral elements of grain (Mg, Zn and Fe) were also significantly enhanced. MLE was found to be more responsive in improving the growth and quality compared with synthetic compounds.

Highlights

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Chenopodium quinoa (Willd.), a pseudocereal, originated from Andean regions and belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae [1]
Data revealed that foliar use of moringa leaf extract (MLE) was more effective in increasing chlorophyll content (Figure 2A)
Carotenoids were significantly reduced in control plants, while maximum improvement of carotenoids was noted by the foliar application of MLE (Figure 2B)

Summary

Introduction

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Chenopodium quinoa (Willd.), a pseudocereal, originated from Andean regions and belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae [1]. Due to its high nutritional profile, quinoa is known as “functional food” because it prevents various chronic disease [3]. It is a rich source of good quality protein, essential amino acids ( lysine (5.1–6.4%). Quinoa seeds are used to lose weight and protect against coronary heart disease [8] as well as to lower blood sugar and insulin levels [9]. Quinoa has a high level of resilience to a variety of common environmental stresses, including drought, frost, soil salinity, disease, and pests [10,11]. Demand for quinoa cultivation is increasing because it can survive under harsh environmental conditions as well as providing excellent nutritional content [1]. Various strategies have been developed, one being the foliar spray of different natural and synthetic plant growth promoters at critical growth stages [12,13,14]

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Conclusion