Abstract
We evaluated the salinity tolerance of 13 cultivars of quinoa (Chenopodum quinoa Willd.) and 3 other crops, rapeseed, Japanese radish and Komatsuna, at germination and early growth stage. To clarify the varietal differences in salinity tolerance of quinoa, we evaluated the germination rates by irrigation treatment using 6 different concentrations (0, 200, 400 600, 800 and 1000 mM) of NaCl solutions. Of the 13 cultivars studied, CICA-127 showed the highest salinity tolerance at germination having a germination rate of 58.8% in 600 mM NaCl solution at 5 days after sowing. The other crops (rapeseed, Japanese radish and Komatsuna) showed low salinity tolerance and could not germinate in 600 mM NaCl solution. Early growth of quinoa and the other crops was evaluated using 1/10000a pot with 0.5–1.0 g NaCl per 100 g soil. Top dry weight and leaf area of quinoa were higher in all NaCl-applied plots than in the control plot. In this study, quinoa cv. CICA-127 was found to be the most tolerant to salinity at germination and early growth stage.
