EFFECTS OF SALINITY STRESS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF QUINOA (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) AT FLOWER INITIATION STAGES

Abstract

      The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield characteristics of quinoa genotypes grown under salinity stresses at different stages of development. The experiment was conducted in Vietnam National University of Agriculture. Two quinoa genotypes and four NaCl salt concentrations (0, 50, 150 and 300 mM) were laid out in factorial experiment in RCBD with three replications. Salinity stress was induced by irrigation with nutrient solution containing NaCl with corresponding concentrations to quinoa plants grown in sands for two weeks during

flowering initiation (35 days after sowing). The results showed that salinity reduced plant height, number of leaves on main stem, number of branches on plant, root length, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, SPAD Chlorophyll Meter Reading (SCMR), panicle length, seed amount, the number of branches per panicle and 1000-seed weight. Quinoa genotypes with high potential for the number of leaves on main stem, the number of branches on plant, root length, root dry weight, SCMR and shoot dry weight under non-stress conditions performed well under salinity conditions.