Sodium and Chloride status in seed of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under salinity stress

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a high-nutrient halophyte suitablefor cultivating in semi-arid climates and saline soils. The Salinity ThresholdValue (STV) of Quinoa varies during growth and is 8, 20 and 15dSm-1 at eachof establishment, flowering, and seed filling growth stages, respectively. Giventhis information, two irrigation methods are applicable: i) irrigation consideringSTV at each growth stage (T), and ii) irrigation regardless of STV, permanentlyby constant levels of salinity (P). Current study was performed to determine theeffect of various salinity levels (i.e. Ns, 10, 15, 20, and 25dSm-1) and differentirrigation methods (P,T) on accumulation of Sodium (Na) and Chloride (Cl) ionsin seed of quinoa. For this purpose, 30 pots were prepared with similar conditionsand each irrigation method (P,T) was performed in half of the pots with five levelsof water salinity and three replications. Results indicated that an increase in ECisignificantly changes ion accumulation content, especially at ECis higher than STV,because it is the onset of damage due to salinity stress. The T method of irrigationwas preferred due to less accumulation of Na and Cl in seed, and therefore lessdamage and loss, especially at higher salinities.

Keywords:

Chloride , Flowering , Seed filling , Sodium