Heat Stress Impact on Yield and Composition of Quinoa Straw under Mediterranean Field Conditions.

Javier Matías,Verónica Cruz,María Reguera

doi:10.3390/plants10050955

Javier Matías, Verónica Cruz + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050955

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Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is receiving increasing attention globally due to the high nutritional value of its seeds, and the ability of this crop to cope with stress. In the current climate change scenario, valorization of crop byproducts is required to support a climate-smart agriculture. Furthermore, research works characterizing and evaluating quinoa stems and their putative uses are scarce. In this work, straw yield and composition, and the relative feed value of five quinoa varieties, were analyzed in two consecutive years (2017–2018) under field conditions in Southwestern Europe. High temperatures were recorded during the 2017 growing season resulting in significantly decreased straw yield and improved feed value, associated with compositional changes under elevated temperatures. Crude protein, ash, phosphorus, and calcium contents were higher under high temperatures, whereas fiber contents decreased. The relative feed value was also higher in 2017 and differed among varieties. Differences among varieties were also found in straw yield, and contents of phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. Overall, the results presented here support a sustainable quinoa productive system by encouraging straw valorization and shedding light on the mechanisms underlying heat-stress responses in this crop.

Highlights

IntroductionIn the twenty-first century, climate change has become one of the most critical global challenges, and is crucial for the agricultural and livestock sectors [1,2,3,4]
In the twenty-first century, climate change has become one of the most critical global challenges, and is crucial for the agricultural and livestock sectors [1,2,3,4]. This phenomenon is associated with increments of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the increase in the mean global temperature, in addition to alterations in the precipitation regime, affecting food and feed production, and its nutritional composition [1,3,5,6,7,8]. Because these changes represent a serious threat to global food security, it is necessary to understand how crops respond to elevated temperatures and how their tolerance to heat stress can be improved [9]
The use of quinoa straw has the potential to contribute to the development of a cleaner agriculture

Summary

Introduction

In the twenty-first century, climate change has become one of the most critical global challenges, and is crucial for the agricultural and livestock sectors [1,2,3,4] This phenomenon is associated with increments of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the increase in the mean global temperature, in addition to alterations in the precipitation regime, affecting food and feed production, and its nutritional composition [1,3,5,6,7,8]. Severe droughts, increased temperatures, and salinity problems are predicted to be more frequent in the near future in these areas [13]

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