Quinoa Plants Research Articles

Potential Effects on the Quinoa Cultivation Yield Based on Different Hydric Scenarios of the Chilean Altiplano

This study evaluates the impact of different irrigation scenarios on the yield of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) in the Chilean Altiplano. The research was conducted in Ancovinto, Tarapacá, Chile, using “Pandela” quinoa seeds. Four irrigation treatments were implemented: rainfed (T0) and irrigation at 100% ETc (T1), 66% ETc (T2), and 33% ETc (T3). Various climatic variables, the soil moisture content, and agromorphological parameters were measured. The results indicated that rainfed conditions (T0) led to higher dry matter production in roots, stems, leaves, and panicles at the end of the growth cycle compared to irrigated treatments. The Leaf Area Index (LAI) was also higher in rainfed conditions during the flowering stage, demonstrating the crop’s adaptability to adverse water conditions. Additionally, the ability of quinoa plants under rainfed conditions to tolerate frost during critical growth stages was a key factor in their superior performance, contributing to a higher grain yield and harvest indices. Plants under rainfed conditions reached greater heights and showed higher harvest indices (HI) and grain yield than those under irrigation. The Water Use Efficiency (WUE) was significantly higher in rainfed conditions, suggesting more effective water utilization under water scarcity. This research represents a one-year study that provides orientations for future research, considering the interannual variability of precipitation in the region. The results obtained show that quinoa plants under traditional management (rainfed) exhibited the best response in the measured growth, development, and production variables, leading to higher production and harvest rates. Additionally, there was greater efficiency in water use, equivalent to 15.87 and 12.7 times that of the 100% and 33% ETc treatments, respectively. These findings highlight quinoa’s remarkable adaptability to harsh hydric conditions and the efficiency of traditional rainfed farming practices in the Altiplano.

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Pseudocereals with C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Metabolism in an Environment with Elevated CO2.

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of increasing CO2 concentration on the growth, productivity, grain quality, and biochemical changes in quinoa and amaranth plants. An experiment was conducted in open chambers (OTCs) to evaluate the responses of these species to different levels of CO2 {a[CO2] = 400 ± 50 μmol mol-1 CO2 for ambient CO2 concentration, e[CO2] = 700 ± 50 μmol mol-1 CO2 for the elevated CO2 concentration}. Growth parameters and photosynthetic pigments reflected changes in gas exchange, saccharolytic enzymes, and carbohydrate metabolism when plants were grown under e[CO2]. Furthermore, both species maintained most of the parameters related to gas exchange, demonstrating that the antioxidant system was efficient in supporting the primary metabolism of plants under e[CO2] conditions. Both species were taller and had longer roots and a greater dry weight of roots and shoots when under e[CO2]. On the other hand, the panicle was shorter under the same situation, indicating that the plants invested energy, nutrients, and all mechanisms in their growth to mitigate stress in expense of yield. This led to a reduction on panicle size and, ultimately, reducing quinoa grain yield. Although e[CO2] altered the plant's metabolic parameters for amaranth, the plants managed to maintain their development without affecting grain yield. Protein levels in grains were reduced in both species under e[CO2] in the average of two harvests. Therefore, for amaranth, the increase in CO2 mainly contributes to lowering the protein content of the grains. As for quinoa, its yield performance is also affected, in addition to its protein content. These findings provide new insights into how plants C3 (amaranth) and C4 (quinoa) respond to e[CO2], significantly increasing photosynthesis and its growth but ultimately reducing yield for quinoa and protein content in both species. This result ultimately underscore the critical need to breed plants that can adapt to e[CO2] as means to mitigate its negative effects and to ensure sustainable and nutritious crop production in future environmental conditions.

Nitrogen Stress Memory in Quinoa: Maternal Effects on Seed Metabolism and Offspring Growth and Physiology.

Plants have developed various strategies to deal with abiotic stresses throughout their lifetimes. However, environmental stresses can have long-lasting effects, positively modifying plant physiological responses to subsequent stress episodes, a phenomenon known as preconditioning or stress memory. Intriguingly, this memory can even be transmitted to offspring, referred to as "inter- or transgenerational memory". Chenopodium quinoa is a pseudocereal that can withstand several abiotic stresses, including nitrogen (N) limitation. This research highlights the critical role of maternal N conditions in shaping the physiological and metabolic responses of their offspring. Mother quinoa plants (F0) were grown under High N (HN) or Low N (LN) conditions. LNF0 plants exhibited lower panicle biomass, net photosynthesis, and yield compared to HNF0 plants. Seeds from LNF0 retained proteins, reduced amino acids' levels, and increased lipids (such as PI 34:2), especially phosphatidylcholines, and their unsaturation level, which was associated with faster germination compared to HNF0 seeds. Offsprings seedlings (F1) grown under either HN or LN had similar proteins and amino acid proportions of their seeds. However, LNF0LNF1 seedlings displayed significantly higher biomass and number of root tips. These changes were significantly correlated with transpiration, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance, as well as with starch content, suggesting higher CO2 fixation at the whole plant level in LNF0LNF1 plants. Our findings suggest that quinoa transmits maternal environmental stress information to its offspring, modulating their resilience. This work underscores the potential of utilizing maternal environmental conditions as a natural priming tool to enhance crop resilience against nutritional stress.

Alginate-Bentonite Encapsulation of Extremophillic Bacterial Consortia Enhances Chenopodium quinoa Tolerance to Metal Stress.

This study explores the encapsulation in alginate/bentonite beads of two metal(loid)-resistant bacterial consortia (consortium A: Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp.; consortium B: Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp.) from the Atacama Desert (northern Chile) and Antarctica, and their influence on physiological traits of Chenopodium quinoa growing in metal(loid)-contaminated soils. The metal(loid) sorption capacity of the consortia was determined. Bacteria were encapsulated using ionic gelation and were inoculated in soil of C. quinoa. The morphological variables, photosynthetic pigments, and lipid peroxidation in plants were evaluated. Consortium A showed a significantly higher biosorption capacity than consortium B, especially for As and Cu. The highest viability of consortia was achieved with matrices A1 (3% alginate and 2% bentonite) and A3 (3% alginate, 2% bentonite and 2.5% LB medium) at a drying temperature of 25 °C and storage at 4 °C. After 12 months, the highest viability was detected using matrix A1 with a concentration of 106 CFU g-1. Further, a greenhouse experiment using these consortia in C. quinoa plants showed that, 90 days after inoculation, the morphological traits of both consortia improved. Chemical analysis of metal(loid) contents in the leaves indicated that consortium B reduced the absorption of Cu to 32.1 mg kg-1 and that of Mn to 171.9 mg kg-1. Encapsulation resulted in a significant increase in bacterial survival. This highlights the benefits of using encapsulated microbial consortia from extreme environments, stimulating the growth of C. quinoa, especially in soils with metal(loid) levels that can be a serious constraint for plant growth.

Partial molecular characterization of cucumber mosaic virus isolate infecting garden peony (Paeonia officinalis) in Serbia

Paeonia officinalis (family Paeoniaceae), known as the garden peony, is a very popular flowering plant with large, showy flowers grown in many gardens in Serbia. In May 2021, peony plants showing chlorotic ringspot and severe mosaic of leaves were observed in a private garden in Zemun (District of Belgrade, Serbia). Symptomatic leaves from two plants were collected and analysed for the presence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), tobacco rattle virus (TRV), alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) using commercial ELISA kits. CMV was detected serologically in both peony samples and no other plant virus was identified. The causal agents from both ELISA-positive samples were successfully mechanically transmissible to Chenopodium quinoa and Nicotiana glutinosa plants. CMV infection in symptomatic garden peony plants was also confirmed by RT-PCR with CMV-specific primers amplifying the complete coat protein (CP) gene and parts of the 3′- and 5′-UTRs. Selected ELISA-positive sample (318-21) was Sanger sequenced using the same primer as in RT-PCR and phylogenetic tree based on complete CP sequences showed that Serbian CMV isolate from garden peony belongs to the CMV subgroup IA.

Impact of abiotic stressors on oleic acid accumulation in the leaves of young quinoa plants

Investigating the impact of not only individual stress factors but also their combined effect on plants becomes imperative in the context of natural and climatic fluctuations. 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2) and α-linolenic (18:3) serve as vital non-enzymatic antioxidants, making significant contributions to plant defense. Moreover, they are indispensable in assessing the nutritional and biological value of plant lipids. Currently, Chenopodium quinoa L., a member of the Amaranth family, is increasingly recognized as a valuable source of antioxidant metabolites. Current study examined the fluctuation patterns in oleic acid ester content, serving as a non-enzymatic antioxidant, when plant exposed to varying intensities of osmotic, saline, and combined stress. A constant concentration of oleic acid esters was shown under different levels of saline stress. Osmotic stress did not affect the oleic acid content. Under salt stress, the oleic acid content increased compared to the control, varying at different NaCl concentrations. However, under combined stress, there was a significant increase in ester content, peaking at a stress level of 200NaCl/L+PEG, followed by a decrease as stress increased. It was noted that signs of stress for the photochemical quenching index of YII and ETR in photosystem II of young quinoa plants also occur with a combination of exposure to 300 mM/L NaCl + PEG. It was suggested that the level of combined stress at 200NaCl/P is transitional from eustress to distress. The results obtained could potentially become the basis for the targeted synthesis of valuable plant antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical purposes in the future.

Impact of natural biochar on soil water retention capacity and quinoa plant growth in different soil textures

Although data regarding the effect of different types of synthetic biochar on plant performance and physical and chemical characteristics of soil is widely available, the effect of natural biochar in this respect is not well known, so far. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of 650-million-years old natural biochar at three application levels of 0 %, 2.5 % and 5 % by weight on yield parameters of quinoa plant and the soil water retention characteristic curve in sandy loam, loam, and clay textural classes. The results showed that the application of 5 % natural biochar to the loam soil increased the thousand seed weight by 8 %, but adding 2.5 % of biochar to the sandy loam soil increased biological yield by 2 %, and in loam soil increased root volume by 409 %, compared to the control. The results of the physical parameters of the soil showed that the application of biochar in three soil textures caused an increase in moisture content at the field capacity (1.8 %-11.22 %), a decrease in macropores in the range of 10–46 %, and an increase in micropores in the range of 0.2–10 % in three soil textures. Therefore, it can be concluded that the potential of natural biochar storage affected the physical properties of the soil and increased soil water retention while improving important soil functions.

Mitigation of Drought Stress for Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Varieties Using Woodchip Biochar-Amended Soil.

Drought stress deteriorates agro-ecosystems and poses a significant threat to crop productivity and food security. Soil amended with biochar has been suggested to mitigate water stress, but there is limited knowledge about how biochar affects the physiology and vegetative growth of quinoa plants under soil water deficits. We grew three quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) varieties, Titicaca (V1), Quipu (V2), and UAFQ7 (V3) in sandy loam soil without (B0) and with 2% woodchip biochar (B2) under drought conditions. The drought resulted in significant growth differences between the varieties. V3 performed vegetatively better, producing 46% more leaves, 28% more branches, and 25% more leaf area than the other two varieties. Conversely, V2 displayed significantly higher yield-contributing traits, with 16% increment in panicle length and 50% more subpanicles compared to the other varieties. Woodchip biochar application significantly enhanced the root development (i.e., root biomass, length, surface, and projected area) and plant growth (i.e., plant height, leaf area, and absolute growth rate). Biochar significantly enhanced root growth, especially fresh and dry weights, by 122% and 127%, respectively. However, biochar application may lead to a trade-off between vegetative growth and panicle development under drought stress as shown for V3 grown in soil with woodchip biochar. However, V3B2 produced longer roots and more biomass. Collectively, we suggest exploring the effects of woodchip biochar addition to the soil on the varietal physiological responses such as stomatal regulations and mechanisms behind the increased quinoa yield under water stress conditions.

Multivariate characterization of salicylic acid and potassium induced physio-biochemical and phytoremediation responses in quinoa exposed to lead and cadmium contamination

The levels of soils pollutants such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) have significantly increased recently resulting in ecological disturbances and threatening crop production. Various amendments have been employed to enhance the tolerance of crops to withstand Cd and Pb stresses. However, the role of combined application of potassium (K) and of salicylic acid (SA) for Cd and Pb stress mitigation and phytoremediation by quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) has not been comprehended well. In the present study, the effect of 10 mM K and 0.1 mM SA was tested on the quinoa plants subjected to 250 μM Pb and/or 100 μM Cd. The Pb and Cd treatments were applied separately or together. Phytotoxicity induced by Pb and Cd resulted in drastic decrease (>60%) in chlorophyll contents, stomatal conductance, and plant biomass. The collective treatment of Pb and Cd induced an increase in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (13-fold) and lipid peroxidation (16-fold) that resulted in a 61% reduction in membrane stability. The application of 10 mM K and/or 0.1 mM SA was remarkable in mitigating the adverse effect of Pb and Cd. The reduction in plant biomass was 17% when 10 mM K and 0.1 mM SA were applied together under the combined treatment of both the metals. The simultaneous application of K and SA effectively mitigated oxidative stress by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase by 12, 10, 7 and 10-folds respectively. The positive effect of K and SA on these attributes resulted in a remarkable reduction in metal accumulation and translocation and lipid peroxidation. The stressed plants supplemented with K and SA exhibited a significant improvement in the membrane stability index, chlorophyll content, and stomatal conductance. This study concluded that the combined application of K and SA could be a good approach for reducing Pb and Cd phytotoxicity in quinoa and enhancing their phytostabilization potential in the contaminated soils.

Effects of Nitrogen Accumulation, Transportation, and Grain Nutritional Quality and Advances in Fungal Endophyte Research in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Plants.

This study aims to understand the influence of nitrogen accumulation, fungal endophyte, yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and grain nutritional quality parameters on the yield of quinoa in some areas of China. The endophytic microbial community in plants plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and health, especially in quinoa plants under different nitrogen fertilizer levels. The results from the present study indicated that appropriate nitrogen application significantly enhanced the nitrogen accumulation and yield of quinoa grains during maturity, increasing by 34.54-42.18% and 14.59-30.71%, respectively. Concurrently, protein content, amylose, total starch, ash, and fat content also increased, with respective growth rates of 1.15-18.18%, 30.74-42.53%, 6.40-12.40%, 1.94-21.94%, and 5.32-22.22%. Our constructed interaction network of bacterial and fungal communities revealed that bacteria outnumbered fungi significantly, and most of them exhibited synergistic interactions. The moderate increase in N150 was beneficial for increasing quinoa yield, achieving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of over 20%. The N210 was increased, and both the yield and NUE significantly decreased. This study provides novel insights into the impact of nitrogen fertilizer on quinoa growth and microbial communities, which are crucial for achieving agricultural sustainable development.

Optimizing dyeing parameters for sustainable wool dyeing using quinoa plant components with antibacterial properties

This study focuses on the sustainable utilization of Quinoa plant components, particularly its leaves, as a waste agricultural material for natural dyeing applications. Two distinct Quinoa genotypes, Titicaca and Giza, were selected for their natural dyeing properties. UV-VIS absorption spectra of Quinoa colorant extracts provided insights into their chemical composition, revealing distinctive peaks indicative of betalains (400–450 nm), chlorophyll (600–650 nm), carotenoids (400–500 nm), and aromatic amino acids (250–280 nm). Wool samples dyed with different plant parts such as flowers, leaves, and stalks exhibited distinct yellow hue, with leaves demonstrating the highest color strength. Metal mordants such as iron (II) sulphate, copper sulphate, and tin (II) chloride influenced color outcomes, highlighting their role in tailoring final appearance. Fastness properties of dyed wool samples were evaluated, with leaves showing moderate staining resistance and good light fastness. Additionally, antibacterial properties of leaves of Giza Quinoa variety were assessed, showing promising activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial properties of fabrics dyed with the leaf extract by mordanting method with different metal salt mordants, particularly Fe, Cr, and Cu, exhibited significant enhancement. These results highlight the multifaceted benefits of Quinoa plant components in sustainable natural dyeing and textile applications, emphasizing their potential for eco-friendly practices in the textile industry.

Physiological, biochemical, and functional changes in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) under potassium and zinc applications in drought stress conditions

The utilization of chelated fertilizers at specific concentrations could serve as an efficient method to mitigate the effects of drought stress in plants, considering it a global climatic issue. The objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of potassium and zinc chelate fertilizers on improving drought tolerance in quinoa plants. The experiment was conducted over two cropping years, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. It followed a split-plot factorial design within a randomized complete block layout, in three replicates. The results indicated that the foliar application of the combined treatment of 50K + 50Zn significantly increased grain yield, particularly in the Q26 cultivar, under drought-stress conditions. However, the best harvest index was related to the Q26 cultivar under 100Zn application conditions. Nevertheless, the application of chelated fertilizers significantly enhanced these traits under stress compared to the non-application conditions. Furthermore, the content of glycine betaine and proline in the plant increased under the influence of 100K and 100Zn applications in the Q29 cultivar in 25% FC. Based on the obtained results for Catalase enzyme activity at 25% FC and in the presence of 100Zn foliar application and for Peroxidase at 25% FC and the presence of the combined 50K + 50Zn foliar application in the Q29 cultivar, the highest activity of these enzymes was observed. Consequently, considering the increased contents of glycine betaine and proline in the foliar application, as well as the enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes contributing to improved drought tolerance in these plants, the application of potassium and zinc chelates as fertilizers is recommended.

Silage Quality Characteristics of Quinoa Varieties Grown in Different Row Spacings

Changing climatic conditions, agricultural lands becoming barren, losing their qualities and decreasing feed resources have led to the search for alternative feed resources. Quinoa (Chenepodium quinoa Willd.) is increasing in importance as an alternative feed source because it is a plant resistant to arid, salty and cold conditions. Quinoa plant can be considered as an alternative plant for silage, which is an important feed source for animals. In this study, the effects of sowing Cherry Vanilla and Read Head quinoa varieties at 4 different row spacings (17.5, 35.0, 52.5, 70.0 cm) on silage quality were investigated. In the research, pH, dry matter ratio, fleig score, ammonia production, sensory analyses, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid contents of quinoa silage were determined. While the effect of row spacing on dry matter ratio, ammonia production, sensory analysis, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid ratios was found to be significant, its effect on pH value was insignificant. The quinoa varieties used in the research had a significant effect on the dry matter ratio and propionic acid content. In the light of the results obtained from the research, it was concluded that in order to obtain a quality quinoa silage, the plants should be sown in 52.5 cm row spacing and the Cherry Vanilla variety should be preferred.

Yield of quinoa (Chenopōdium quīnoa Willd.) under the effect of cold stratification of seeds

Purpose. To identify the effect of cold stratification of seeds on the growth, development and yield formation of quinoa. Methods. The research was carried out in 2022–2023 in the Demonstration and Collection Field of Crops of the Plant Breeding Department of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv) and in two laboratories of the Plant Breeding Department: Seed and Planting Material and Analytical Research in Crop Production. Design of the experiment: 1) control seeds (CS); 2) stratified seed (SS) after 7-day exposure to low (0−4 °С) temperatures in the refrigerator. The plot area in the small-scale experiment was 2 m2 and replication was six times. Results. Stratified seeds of the ‘Kvartet’ variety germinated faster than the control seeds: they sprouted on the 5th day after sowing. Phenological stages of flowering and maturation in quinoa plants grown from seeds after cold stratification lasted longer compared to plants in control plots. Cold stratification of seeds contributed to a longer growing season and an increase in plant height to 116.3 cm. Prolonged explosion of quinoa seeds to low temperatures (0−4 °C) contributed to an increase in panicle length by 3.2 %, the number of branches on a panicle by 8%, the mass of seeds from one plant by 2.3%, and 1000-kernel weight by 3.9%. The crop yield reached 1.86 t/ha. Conclusions. Cold stratification of quinoa seeds before sowing helps to accelerate germination and germination rate: field germination increases by 5%, seedlings appear 4 days earlier, and the growing season is extended. Prolonged explosion of quinoa seeds to low temperatures (0−4 °C) in refrigerator helps to increase the indicators of individual productivity of plants and increases crop yield by 2.8%.

Drought Has a Greater Negative Effect on the Growth of the C3Chenopodium quinoa Crop Halophyte than Elevated CO2 and/or High Temperature.

Plant growth and productivity are predicted to be affected by rising CO2 concentrations, drought and temperature stress. The C3 crop model in a changing climate is Chenopodium quinoa Willd-a protein-rich pseudohalphyte (Amaranthaceae). Morphophysiological, biochemical and molecular genetic studies were performed on quinoa grown at ambient (400 ppm, aCO2) and elevated (800 ppm, eCO2) CO2 concentrations, drought (D) and/or high temperature (eT) treatments. Among the single factors, drought caused the greatest stress response, inducing disturbances in the light and dark photosynthesis reactions (PSII, apparent photosynthesis) and increasing oxidative stress (MDA). Futhermore, compensation mechanisms played an important protective role against eT or eCO2. The disruption of the PSII function was accompanied by the activation of the expression of PGR5, a gene of PSI cyclic electron transport (CET). Wherein under these conditions, the constant Rubisco content was maintained due to an increase in its biosynthesis, which was confirmed by the activation of rbcL gene expression. In addition, the combined stress treatments D+eT and eCO2+D+eT caused the greatest negative effect, as measured by increased oxidative stress, decreased water use efficiency, and the functioning of protective mechanisms, such as photorespiration and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, decreased PSII efficiency and increased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were not accompanied by the activation of protective mechanisms involving PSI CET. In summary, results show that the greatest stress experienced by C. quinoa plants was caused by drought and the combined stresses D+eT and eCO2+D+eT. Thus, drought consistently played a decisive role, leading to increased oxidative stress and a decrease in defense mechanism effectiveness.

Understanding mechanisms for differential salinity tissue tolerance between quinoa and spinach: Zooming on ROS-inducible ion channels

Soil salinity is a worldwide issue and a major threat to global food security. Salinity tolerance is a complex mechanism that is conferred by numerous molecular, physiological, and biochemical traits. Of critical importance are plant’s ability to regulate redox balance without compromising reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling and maintain cytosolic ion homeostasis. In this study, the mechanistic basis of K+ retention ability in leaf mesophyll (an important but highly sensitive plant tissue) was compared between halophytic quinoa and glycophytic spinach. Phenotypic data showed quinoa outperformed spinach under 100 to 500 mmol L−1 NaCl salinity. The major difference behind this differential salinity sensitivity was a differential K+ uptake in leaf mesophyll. Electrophysiological and molecular experiments revealed that a superior ability of mesophyll K+ retention in quinoa was conferred by three complementary mechanisms: (i) an intrinsically lower H+-ATPase activity in quinoa (potentially as an energy saving strategy); (ii) reduced sensitivity of K+ transporters to ROS; and (iii) increased sensitivity of ROS-inducible Ca2+-permeable channels. Moreover, the sensitivity of K+-transport systems to ROS was further examined in NaCl-acclimated quinoa and spinach plants. The key factors differentiating between K+ retention in acclimated leaf mesophyll was associated with the reduced sensitivity and gene expression of K+-permeable outward rectifying channel (GORK), Arabidopsis potassium transporter 1 (AKT1), and high affinity potassium transporter 5 (HAK5) to additional NaCl and ROS stress, along with the upregulation of ROS scavenging system. Taken together, our results showed that the tissue-specific and ROS-specific regulation of K+ retention are important for conferring salinity tolerant at least in the halophyte quinoa.

Silicon Combined with Trichoderma harzianum and Organic Matter as an Environmental Friendly Strategy for Mitigating Salt Stress in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Silicon is known to be an effective salt stress attenuator for crops, and evaluating its application effectiveness in combination with other salt stress attenuators is essential for crops and soils. This work aimed to assess whether applying organic matter (OM) and Trichoderma (T) potentiates silicon (Si) in mitigating soil salinization and promoting quinoa growth under salt stress. Quinoa plants were grown in pots under saline irrigation (3.12 dS m−1) and subjected to the following treatments: quinoa only; quinoa + Si; quinoa + Si + OM; quinoa + Si + T; and quinoa + Si + OM + T, at two levels of soil moisture—30 and 80% of the available water content (AWC). Sixty days after transplanting, soil and quinoa plants were collected from the pots. At 80% AWC, Si + OM and Si + OM + T promoted the highest fresh mass for quinoa—301.54 and 247.26 g, respectively. Si + OM + T significantly mitigated saline parameters (EC = 9.82 dS m−1; ESP = 32.27%). Si combined with OM and T was the most effective way to attenuate salt stress in quinoa and soil salinization and promote a more sustainable way to manage saline irrigation in semiarid regions.

Empirical phenotyping and genome-wide association study reveal the association of panicle architecture with yield in Chenopodium quinoa.

Chenopodium quinoa manifests adaptability to grow under varying agro-climatic scenarios. Assessing quinoa germplasm's phenotypic and genetic variability is a prerequisite for introducing it as a potential candidate in cropping systems. Adaptability is the basic outcome of ecological genomics of crop plants. Adaptive variation predicted with a genome-wide association study provides a valuable basis for marker-assisted breeding. Hence, a panel of 72 quinoa plants was phenotyped for agro morphological attributes and association-mapping for distinct imperative agronomic traits. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed to assess genetic relatedness and population structure. Heatmap analysis showed three genotypes were early maturing, and six genotypes were attributed for highest yield. The SD-121-07 exhibited highest yield per plant possessing green, glomerulate shaped, compact density panicle with less leaves. However, SJrecm-03 yielded less exhibiting pink, intermediate shape, intermediate density panicles with less leaves. The phenotyping revealed strong correlation of panicle architecture with yield in quinoa. A genome-wide association study unraveled the associations between ISSR makers and agro-morphological traits. Mixed linear modes analysis yielded nine markers associated with eight traits at p ≤ 0.01. Moreover, ISSR markers significantly associated with panicle shape and leafiness were also associated with yield per plant. These findings contribute to the provision of authenticity for marker-assisted selection that ultimately would support quinoa breeding programs.

The Fifth Residue of the Coat Protein of Turnip Mosaic Virus Is Responsible for Long-Distance Movement in a Local-Lesion Host and Aphid Transmissibility in a Systemic Host.

HC-Pro and coat protein (CP) genes of a potyvirus facilitate cell-to-cell movement and are involved in the systemic movement of the viruses. The interaction between HC-Pro and CP is mandatory for aphid transmission. Two turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) isolates, RC4 and YC5, were collected from calla lily plants in Taiwan. The virus derived from the infectious clone pYC5 cannot move systemically in Chenopodium quinoa plants and loses aphid transmissibility in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, like the initially isolated virus. Sequence analysis revealed that two amino acids, P5 and A206, of YC5 CP uniquely differ from RC4 and other TuMV strains. Recombination assay and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the fifth residue of leucine (L) at the N-terminal region of the CP (TuMV-RC4), rather than proline (P) (TuMV-YC5), is critical to permit the systemic spread in C. quinoa plants. Moreover, the single substitution mutant YC5-CPP5L became aphid transmissible, similar to RC4. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that YC5-GFP was restricted in the petioles of inoculated leaves, whereas YC5-CPP5L-GFP translocated through the petioles of inoculated leaves, the main stem, and the petioles of the upper uninoculated leaves of C. quinoa plants. In addition, YC5-GUS was blocked at the basal part of the petiole connecting to the main stem of the inoculated C. quinoa plants, whereas YC5-CPP5L-GFP translocated to the upper leaves. Thus, a single amino acid, the residue L5 at the N-terminal region right before the 6DAG8 motif, is critical for the systemic translocation ability of TuMV in a local lesion host and for aphid transmissibility in a systemic host.

Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) under abiotic stress.

The MYB transcription factor (TF) are among the largest gene families of plants being responsible for several biological processes. The R2R3-MYB gene family are integral player regulating plant primary and secondary metabolism, growth and development, and responses to hormones and stresses. The phylogenetic analysis combined with gene structure analysis and motif determination resulted in division of R2R3-MYB gene family into 27 subgroups. Evidence generated from synteny analyses indicated that CqR2R3-MYBs gene family is featured by tandem and segmental duplication events. On the basis of RNA-Seq data, the expression patterns of different tissues under salt treatment were investigated resulting CqR2R3-MYB genes high expression both in roots and stem of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa ) plants. More than half of CqR2R3-MYB genes showed expression under salt stress. Based on this result, CqR2R3-MYB s may regulate quinoa plant growth development and resistance to abiotic stresses. These findings provided comprehensive insights on role of CqR2R3-MYBs gene family members in quinoa and candidate MYB gene family members can be further studies on their role for abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.