Respostas fisiológicas e bioquímicas de plantas de quinoa cv. BRS PIABIRU cultivadas sob condições de salinidade

Abstract

Classified as optional halophyte, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is recognized for tolerate high levels of salinity. In Brazil, the cv. BRS Piabiru is the first recommended for grain production, providing an alternative for diversification of agricultural systems. However, studies on the adaptation of this variety in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, as well as the salinity conditions are still needed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses (pigments and gas exchange) and biochemical (antioxidant enzyme activity, hydrogen peroxide levels, lipid peroxidation, proline and osmotic potential) of quinoa plants cv. BRS Piabiru cultivated under saline conditions. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse where the seeds were distributed in plastic pots filled with washed sand. After seven days of germination was supplied nutrient solution administered every four days and at day 30, the trimming was carried out, keeping four plants per pot. During this period the salt solutions have also been applied in the form of sodium chloride at concentrations of 100, 200, 300 and 400 mM, beyond which the control treatment plants were grown in the absence of salinity. The nutrient and saline solutions were applied interchangeably, every two days until the end of the experiment. At 30, 60 and 90 days after induction of treatments, the plants were evaluated for physiological and biochemical parameters (non-destructive and destructive analysis, respectively). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (p≤ 0.05), the averages compared by Tukey test at 5% error probability and analyzed by polynomial regression. There was reduction in chlorophyll content and nitrogen balance index and from 60 days, an increase in flavonoid content. During this period, net assimilation rate of CO2 followed quadratic upward trend until the concentration of 250 mM and the conditions of water use efficiency and carboxylation efficiency increased linearly with increasing salinity. The antioxidant enzyme activity by the enzyme superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase showed that the salinity promoted adaptation and attempt to neutralize the reactive oxygen species produced during salt stress, both in shoots and in roots. There was an increase of osmotic potential in both organs 90 days after induction of treatment, however, the roots proline synthesis did not follow the same trend. Despite the reduction in levels of chlorophyll and nitrogen balance, there is maintenance of photosynthetic rate, that, associated with antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment, until the concentration of 250 mM of NaCl, featuring the cv. BRS Piabiru with growing potential subjects soil salinization.