Quantifying the Effect of Salinity Stress on Different Genotypes of Quinoa and Amaranth Compared to Barley, Pearl Millet, Sorghum and Finger Millet in Hydroponic System

Partners: Max Plank Institute

Project/Experiment Duration: 2019-2021

Objectives:

1. Compare quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) accessions with barley (Hordeum vulgare), pearl millet and sorghum for their salinity tolerance; and the relative salinity tolerance of quinoa with amaranth.
2. Evaluate physiological parameters in different accessions under increasing salinity levels.
3. Determine the range for the level of tolerance to salinity within the crops.
4. Compare salinity tolerance of quinoa accessions in the diversity panel at germination and early seedling stages.
5. Compare salinity tolerance in a mini core collection of sorghum.
6. Compare salinity tolerance in a mini core collection of finger millet.

Date of Sowing: November 2019

Experimental Design: Systematic planting in a hydroponic system.

Set-ups:

• I: 7 salinity levels (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 dS/m)
• II: 5 salinity levels (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 dS/m)

Treatments: 1. Genotypic comparison:

• i. Quinoa vs Barley, Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet - Setup I.
• ii. Quinoa vs Amaranth - Setup I.
• iii. Amaranth vs Barley, Sorghum and Pearl Millet - Setup II.
• iv. Core collection of Sorghum and Finger Millet - Setup II.

A wide range of short-term hydroponic experiments are conducted in the greenhouse  (1). The current experiments are focused on:

1. Comparing the salinity tolerance of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) accessions with that of barley (Hordeum vulgare), pearl millet and sorghum; as well as the relative salinity tolerance of quinoa with that of amaranth;
2. Evaluating physiological parameters in different accessions at increasing salinity levels;
3. Determining the range for the level of tolerance to salinity within the crops;
4. Comparing the salinity tolerance of quinoa accessions in the diversity panel at the germination and early seedling stages;
5. Comparing salinity tolerance in a mini-core collection of sorghum;
6. Comparing salinity tolerance in a mini-core collection of finger millet.