Effect of salinity on composition, viability and germination of seeds of Chenopodium quinoa Willd

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 302; no. 1-2; pp. 79 - 90
• Main Authors: Koyro, Hans-Werner, Eisa, Sayed Said
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01-01-2008; Springer; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adjustment; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbohydrates; Chenopodium quinoa; Crop yield; Ecology; Embryos; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Germination; K/Na selectivity; Life Sciences; Minerals; NaCl salinity; Pericarp; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plants; Quinoa; Regular Article; Salinity; Salt tolerance; Seed production; Seed structure; Seeds; Sodium chloride; Soil salinity; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Water potential; K/Na selectivity; Adjustment; NaCl salinity; Seed structure; Seed production; Soil plant relation; Chenopodium quinoa
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-007-9457-4

Salinity influences plant growth, seed yield and seed quality even of halophytic crops such as Chenopodium quinoa. Plant growth, total seed yield, number of seeds, fresh weight and dry weight of seeds, were all significantly reduced in the presence of salinity. Only at high salinity did the content of proteins (as well as total N) increase significantly in the seeds whereas the content of total carbohydrates (as well as total C) decrease. Aside from that the capacity for germination was diminished by a reduced seed size and a disproportionate reduction of the volume of the perisperm. However, the reduced capacity seemed to be compensated by an accelerated germination owing to high Na and Cl concentrations leading to a low water potential in the walls of the plant ovary. At high salinity the passage of NaCl to the seed interior was hindered by the seed cover. There was an obvious gradient between potentially toxic (Na and Cl) and essentially needed elements (K, Mg, Ca, P and S) across the seed coat of salt treated plants and also a significant change of the distribution of elements in the embryo. The results indicate a highly protected seed interior leading to a high salinity resistance of quinoa seeds.