Abstract
In 2017, in a new Chenopodium quinoa cultivation area (Central Italy), emergence failures of the Titicaca, Rio Bamba, and Real varieties, whose seeds were obtained the previous year (2016) in the same location, were observed. Moreover, leaf disease symptoms on the Regalona variety, whose seeds came from Chile, were detected. Visual and microscopic analyses showed the presence of browning/necrotic symptoms on the seeds of the three varieties whose emergence in the field had failed. In addition, their in vitro germination rates were strongly compromised. Fusarium spp. was isolated with high incidence from Titicaca, Rio Bamba, and Real seeds. Among the detected Fusarium species, in the phylogenetic analysis, the dominant one clustered in the sub-clade Equiseti of the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti (FIESC) species complex. Instead, the pathogen associated with Regalona leaf symptoms was identified, by morphological and molecular features, as Peronospora variabilis, the causal agents of downy mildew. This is the first report of both P. variabilis and F. equiseti on C. quinoa in Italy. Species-specific primers also detected P. variabilis in Regalona seeds. These results underline the importance of pathogen monitoring in new quinoa distribution areas, as well as of healthy seed production and import for successful cultivation.
Highlights
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an annual dicotyledonous seed-producing plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family [1]
A combination of visual and stereomicroscopic observations of seed material allowed the detection of the presence of browning/necrotic symptoms on the seeds of the Titicaca, Rio Bamba, Real, and Regalona varieties, with the seeds of the first three varieties showing symptom incidences of 93%, 77%, and 70%, respectively, which were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than those recorded in the seeds of the Regalona variety (17%) (Figure 1)
This work shows the results of a series of phytopathological surveys carried out after observing, in a new cultivation site (Umbria, Central Italy): (a) severe crop emergence failures in a number of quinoa varieties and (b) severe leaf disease symptoms on one of the surveyed varieties
Summary
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an annual dicotyledonous seed-producing plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family [1]. Due to the high level of genetic diversity, the crop is highly resilient to agro-ecological extremes (soil, rainfall, temperature, and altitude) and it is tolerant to frost, drought, and soil salinity [2,4,5]. For this reason, quinoa can be grown on marginal lands unsuitable for other major crops, providing in these disadvantaged areas food of high nutritional value [6]. Given its high resiliency and tolerance to abiotic stresses, in particular salinity and drought, quinoa could represent a good alternative to the traditional Mediterranean crops in light of the current climate change [18]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
