| Heat Stress Augments the Detrimental Effects of Salt and Drought Stress in Quinoa Under Field Conditions |
| Paper ID : 1178-IGA |
| Authors |
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GHULAM ABBAS *1, Maria Aslam2 1COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan 2Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Pakistan |
| Abstract |
| Background and Aim: Soil salinity, drought and heat stress are among the major contributors of decline in crop yields all over the world due to climate change. Climate resilient crops like quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) can ensure food security by overcoming these challenges. Materials and Methods: A field experiment was conducted using two genotypes of quinoa (Titicaca and Puno) under arid conditions on salt affected soil to evaluate the effects of heat, drought and salinity stress on quinoa plants. Results: The decrease in plant growth and grain yield when plants were subjected to high temperature, drought, and salinity stress simultaneously was more as compared to individual stresses. A significant decrease in plant biomass (34%) and grain yield (33%) was noted in genotype Puno when it was grown under combined stress of heat, drought and salinity, as compared to salinity alone. Similarly, the combined stress of heat, drought and salinity caused a significant decrease in plant biomass (41%) and grain yield (43%) of genotype Titicaca, as compared to salinity alone treatment. Leaf relative water contents and stomatal conductance were also decreased more when heat stress was imposed along with drought and salt stress in both genotypes. When plants were grown under the combination of salinity, heat and drought stress, K concentration was the lowest, and Na concentration was the highest . The combined stress also resulted in significant decrease of grain mineral contents (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, K, and Mn). The carbohydrate, lipid and protein contents of grains were not significantly affected by salinity alone. However, combination of salinity with heat and drought resulted in a significant decrease of these contents. Conclusion: Puno showed better grain yield and quality than Titicaca hence, it should be preferred for cultivation on salt affected soils in dryland farming systems having heat stress problems. |
| Keywords |
| Climate change, Soil salinity, Quinoa, Heat stress, Drought |
| Status: Accepted |
