Abstract:
Objective Germination, growth, and physiology of quinoa seeds and seedlings under salt stress were analyzed.
Method Temuco Quinoa seeds and potted seedlings were treated with NaCl solutions of different concentrations (i.e., 0, 200, and 450 mmol·L−1). Physiological indexes on seed germination and seedling growth, agronomic traits of mature plants, contents of nutrients in the seeds or seedlings, and spatial-temporal expression of SOD, POD, and BADH in the seedlings, were monitored to determine the effects of the imposed salt stress.
Result (1) Quinoa seed germination and seedling growth were significantly inhibited by the high NaCl concentration at 450 mmol·L−1. The N-uptake was ill-affected, the Na+/K+ ratio significantly increased, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) significantly decreased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content significantly higher than that of control. However, under 200 mmol NaCl·L−1, the quinoa plants grew and developed well. Aside from a declined germination index, the seed vigor index and fresh seedling weight were significantly increased, the content of all nutrients slightly raised, and the SOD and POD activities significantly elevated without a significant difference in MDA over control. (2) Under the salt stress of 200 mmol·L−1 and 450 mmol·L−1, the soluble sugar content increased by 68.06% and 41.67%, and the proline by 237.38% and 189.97%, respectively. As the salt concentration increased, they share a similar trend of firstly increasing then a decline. (3) In response to salt stress, BADH and SOD were more highly expressed in the root tissues than in the stems and leaves, while POD was highest in the leaves and lowest in the roots.
Conclusion High salt concentration at 450 mmol·L−1 ill-affected the nutrient content in Temuco quinoa seeds, inhibited the germination, and hindered the seedling development. The temporal expression of BADH was more rapid and sensitive to salt stress than those of POD and SOD at either 200 mmol·L−1 or 450 mmol·L−1. Consequently, it could be served as an indicator in screening salt-tolerant quinoa germplasms.