Search Results (10)

Peanut productivity is severely restricted by soil salinization and associated nutrient deficiency in saline soil. The quinoa–peanut relay intercrop pattern (IP) is a promising planting system that utilizes the biological advantages of quinoa to improve soil ecological functions and productivity. However, the effects of IP on soil physicochemical and biological properties and the yield formation of the combined peanut crop are still unclear. Two-year field experiments in coastal saline soil were conducted to explore the effects of IP on peanut growth and pod yield, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial community characterization at different growth stages of peanut based on the traditional monocrop pattern (MP). The results show that IP promoted peanut pod yield, although there was the disadvantage of plant growth at an early stage. Soil water content, electrical conductivity (EC), and Na⁺ content in the peanut rhizosphere were lower, whereas K⁺, NH₄⁺, and total organic carbon (TOC) contents were higher in IP systems at both the vegetative and reproductive stages. The pod yield of peanut was significantly negatively correlated with soil EC and Na⁺ contents at the vegetative stage, but positively correlated with K⁺, NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻, and TOC contents at the reproductive stage. IP rebuilt the composition of the soil bacterial community in the peanut rhizosphere and increased the abundance of the beneficial bacterial community, which were positively correlated with soil TOC, K⁺, NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻ contents. These findings suggest that IP can increase peanut pod yield through optimizing soil physicochemical properties and microbial community composition, and it is a promising planting system for improving agricultural production in coastal saline lands. Full article

Young vegetative quinoa (YVQ) has gained attention as a high-protein leafy crop for human consumption with potential for cultivation in Mediterranean and semiarid regions. We investigated the effects of inter-row spacing and genotype on YVQ fresh and dry matter (DM) yield, protein content (PC), and protein yield during summer cultivation in northern Israel in two separate, independent, randomized field experiments over two consecutive years (2020–2021). We hypothesized that row spacing and genotypic differences would significantly impact yield and PC. Inter-row spacing significantly affected plant density, ranging from 55 to 366 plants m⁻². Fresh and DM yields ranged from 4957 to 28,469 kg ha⁻¹ and 661 to 3737 kg DM ha⁻¹, respectively. PC ranged from 20.5 to 26.6% and was not significantly influenced by row spacing. Total protein yield ranged from 147 to 884 kg ha⁻¹. Among the five tested genotypes, no significant differences were observed in fresh (7477–17,776 kg ha⁻¹) or dry (1122–2199 kg DM ha⁻¹) biomass, PC (21.2–26.5%), or protein yield (260–579 kg ha⁻¹), suggesting limited genetic differentiation under the specific environmental and agronomic conditions tested. Amino acid analysis confirmed the presence of all nine essential amino acids, fulfilling over 30% of the recommended daily intake per 100 g DM. These findings highlight YVQ as a promising, sustainable, and protein-rich leafy crop for Mediterranean agriculture. Further research should explore multi-harvest potential, mechanical weeding, and optimized agronomic practices for commercial-scale production. Full article

The present study aimed to qualitatively assess the influence of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. varieties (INIAP-Tunkahuan, INIAP-Pata de Venado varieties and Chimborazo genotype), phenological stages (40, 60, and 80 days), and places of cultivation (Pichincha and Chimborazo Ecuadorian provinces) on the leaf and seed phenolic composition and biological properties. Their nutraceutical potential was assessed through qualitative analyses of (i) their polyphenols by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC); and (ii) their free radical scavenging (quenching of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical, DPPH^•) and α-amylase inhibitory properties (iodine visualization of starch hydrolysis) by HPTLC–bioautography. Compared to seeds, the quinoa leaf methanolic extracts present a high content of polyphenols with free radical scavenging activity, and compounds with an α-amylase inhibitory property; both biological activities indicate a remarkable potential of quinoa leaves, which may be relevant for the treatment of diabetes but also for the chemoprevention and/or treatment of pathologies related to oxidative stress. In quinoa leaves harvested after 80 days of cultivation, regardless of the place of production and the variety, a high content of bioactive compounds was observed. Future research is undoubtedly needed to further promote quinoa leaves as a dietary vegetable or to develop them into a nutritional supplement. This would empower quinoa smallholders in Andean regions to promote the sustainable development of this culture in its places of origin. Full article

The application of biochar to agricultural soils has been proven to have many advantages, including the improvement of soil water holding capacity and plant growth, particularly under limiting conditions of water supply. The response of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) to water shortage occurring during the vegetative growth stages is not well known. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of three wood chip biochar rates (0%, 2% and 4%) and two water regimes (100 and 50% evapotranspiration losses restitution) on the vegetative development and water status of quinoa (cultivar Titicaca). The results showed that the treatment with 2% wood chip biochar improved plant height, leaf and branch number and stem diameter during the vegetative growing cycle compared to the 0% (control) and 4% biochar treatments, which were not different from each other. At the end of the experiment, when the plants were at the flowering initiation stage, increases of 23% in leaf area, 22% in fresh biomass, 27% in main panicle length and 36% in sub-panicle number were observed. The application of woody biochar at a 4% rate, although improving the plant water status with increases of 10% in RWC and 18% in Ψ, did not enhance the vegetative development of the quinoa. The water shortage negatively affected both the growth performance and plant water status. The best growth response of quinoa was observed only when the plants were treated with a 2% biochar rate and were fully irrigated. Full article

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa), a member of the Amaranthaceae family, is an allotetraploid annual plant, endemic to South America. The plant of C. quinoa presents significant ecological plasticity with exceptional adaptability to several environmental stresses, including salinity. The resilience of quinoa to several abiotic stresses, as well as its nutritional attributes, have led to significant shifts in quinoa cultivation worldwide over the past century. This work first defines germination sensu stricto in quinoa where the breakage of the pericarp and the testa is followed by endosperm rupture (ER). Transcriptomic changes in early seed germination stages lead to unstable expression levels in commonly used reference genes that are typically stable in vegetative tissues. Noteworthy, no suitable reference genes have been previously identified specifically for quinoa seed germination under salt stress conditions. This work aims to identify these genes as a prerequisite step for normalizing qPCR data. To this end, germinating seeds from UDEC2 and UDEC4 accessions, with different tolerance to salt, have been analyzed under conditions of absence (0 mM NaCl) and in the presence (250 mM NaCl) of sodium chloride. Based on the relevant literature, six candidate reference genes, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Monensin sensitivity1 (MON1), Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), Actin-7 (ACT7), Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC), and 18S ribosomal RNA (18S), were selected and assessed for stability using the RefFinder Tool encompassing the statistical algorithms geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt in the evaluation. The data presented support the suitability of CqACT7 and CqUBC as reference genes for normalizing gene expression during seed germination under salinity stress. These recommended reference genes can be valuable tools for consistent qPCR studies on quinoa seeds. Full article

Climate change has affected the food supply chain and raised serious food concerns for humans and animals worldwide. The present investigation aimed to assess the effect of environmental factors along with three different levels of cutting (i.e., cutting 1, 2, and 3 at the vegetative, budding, and flowering stages, respectively) and spacing (i.e., 21, 23, and 26 cm) on quinoa biomass and quality to select the most suitable accessions. This experiment was repeated for two years using a split–split plot experimental design. The cutting × genotype × year and cutting × space × genotype interactions were significant for most quinoa morphological traits (except for leaf area and intermodal distance), where the maximum growth in number of leaves/plant (NoL), plant height (PH), fresh weight (FW), number of branches/plant (Br), and dry weight (DW) were observed during the second growing season. Cutting and spacing levels also showed significant effects on morphological and quality traits of quinoa. Among the different levels of cutting and spacing, cutting level 3 and spacing level 2 were more effective across both years at gaining maximum biomass and quality traits such as crude fat (CF) and crude protein (CP). According to the MGIDI, only two accessions (R3 and R9) fared better in both growing seasons, and selected accessions had positive morphological and quality traits. There were moderately significant negative correlations between PH, NoL, LA, FW, and DW and anti-quality traits such as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), indicating that an increase in biomass decreased the concentrations of ADF and NDF in both stem and leaves. A comparison with oat accessions (G3 and G7) revealed that quinoa has higher CP and CF and lower NDF than oats in both stems and leaves (except for ADF). In conclusion, the combination of cutting level 3 and spacing level 2 (23 cm) is more suitable to obtain high-quality quinoa forage with maximum biomass production. Furthermore, the MGIDI is a useful tool for breeders to select genotypes based on their mean performance, stability, and desired traits. Full article

Prolonged drought periods, increasingly occurring worldwide due to global climate change, could affect the growth and productivity of both traditional and climate-resilient crops, including quinoa. Specifically, the vegetative growing cycle of this species is highly sensitive to drought conditions. In this context, using organic amendments could help plants cope with drought due to their ability to enhance soil water status. So, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of different organic amendments, i.e., two biochars (from woodchips and vineyard prunings) and a vermicompost (from cattle manure), applied to the soil alone and mixed at 2% rate (w/w), on the vegetative development of quinoa (cv. Titicaca), during which a period of water stress was imposed from the twelve-leaf stage to the bud stage. A set of growth-related parameters were measured both during and at the end of the experiment, along with a set of water-related parameters, at the end of the water-stress period and after soil re-watering. The results showed that woodchip biochar, both alone and mixed with vermicompost, significantly affected plant growth during the water-stress period, also allowing a quicker recovery once drought conditions ended. Indeed, the leaf number and area, SPAD index, leaf and stem fresh weight, and dry matter content in plants treated with woodchip biochar, alone and mixed with vermicompost, were higher than vineyard pruning biochar, alone and mixed with vermicompost and similar to the well-watered control plants. Similar results were observed considering the yield contributing traits detected at the end of the experiment, including the main panicle length, number of sub-panicle, as well as fresh weight and dry matter content of both panicle and sub-panicles. Additionally, the water-related parameters, especially the low turgid weight to dry weight ratio of woodchip biochar treated plants, showed evidence of better growth than vineyard pruning biochar. At the end of the experiment, the WUE of plants treated with woodchip biochar and vermicompost, both alone and mixed, was higher than vineyard pruning biochar alone and mixed with vermicompost. Among the tested organic amendments, woodchip biochar alone and mixed with vermicompost positively affected the vegetative growth response of quinoa under water-stress conditions. Full article

Worldwide, around a third of loss and waste is generated at different stages of the food transformation chain, generating relevant economic, social, and environmental impacts, and increases in the water footprint, emission of greenhouse gases, pressure on the use of arable land, production costs, and decrease in the availability of food for the population. These reasons make imperative the implementation of strategies that minimize the generation of these losses. The Chilean “Technology Center for Food Innovation” (Centro Tecnológico para la Innovación Alimentaria—CeTA), aware of this problem, is contributing to the development of innovative products where materials that are considered waste or by-products from processes in the food, agriculture, cattle raising, and aquaculture industry are reused, or raw materials that do not meet commercial standards, taking advantage of their properties and bioactive compounds, turning them into value propositions that have circular economy components. Examples of these products developed in CeTA include soups, fruit purees, snacks, baked products, food ingredients, and breakfast cereals that contain valued raw materials such as barley bagasse, defatted coconut flour, fruit pomaces, discarded meats, quinoa grown in lagging areas of Chile, as well as stems, leaves, and fruit and vegetable peels, thus generating an environmental, economic, and social impact. Full article

Quinoa cultivation has expanded from South America to many countries because of its wide adaptability and nutritional value. We evaluated 32 introduced quinoa genotypes using 17 qualitative and 11 quantitative traits under Saudi Arabia conditions during the 2018–2019 season. The quinoa genotypes showed considerable variation during the vegetative and maturity stages. Plant height values varied between 60 and 18 cm, and maturity ranged from 98 to 177 days. Leaf shapes were rhomboidal or triangular, with dentate or serrate margins. Green was the standard color for leaves and panicles at the flowering stage. The leaf granule colors were white, purple, and white-red. At 150 units of the Euclidean distance, the genotypes aggregated into four major groups based on their morphological traits. Twenty-one sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) primer pair combinations generated 75 amplified fragments (alleles), with a mean of 3.57 alleles per primer pair combination. Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic means (UPGMA) clustering analysis showed that the quinoa genotypes were grouped based on origin or according to genetic background. Genotypes from South America presented higher mean values for the average number of alleles, Shannon index (0.411), gene diversity (0.271), and polymorphic percentage (83.95). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that most of the genetic variation was because of differences within populations (86%). The wide variability of the genotypes studied herein is of great importance for quinoa breeders. Full article

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a model halophytic crop species, was used to shed light on salt tolerance mechanisms at the transcriptomic level. An RNA-sequencing analysis of genotype R49 at an early vegetative stage was performed by Illumina paired-ends method comparing high salinity and control conditions in a time-course pot experiment. Genome-wide transcriptional salt-induced changes and expression profiling of relevant salt-responsive genes in plants treated or not with 300 mM NaCl were analyzed after 1 h and 5 days. We obtained up to 49 million pairs of short reads with an average length of 101 bp, identifying a total of 2416 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the treatment and time of sampling. In salt-treated vs. control plants, the total number of up-regulated and down-regulated genes was 945 and 1471, respectively. The number of DEGs was higher at 5 days than at 1 h after salt treatment, as reflected in the number of transcription factors, which increased with time. We report a strong transcriptional reprogramming of genes involved in biological processes like oxidation-reduction, response to stress and response to abscisic acid (ABA), and cell wall organization. Transcript analyses by real-time RT- qPCR supported the RNA-seq results and shed light on the contribution of roots and shoots to the overall transcriptional response. In addition, it revealed a time-dependent response in the expression of the analyzed DEGs, including a quick (within 1 h) response for some genes, suggesting a “stress-anticipatory preparedness” in this highly salt-tolerant genotype. Full article