PurposeTo explore the effects of drought on the germination and physiological characteristics of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) seeds, and to provide a theoretical basis for studying the drought-resistant mechanism of quinoa and breeding the drought-resistant varieties.
MethodWe took quinoa seeds as experimental materials and simulated drought condition with polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000), so as to explore the influence caused by drought on germination rate, bud length and physiological indexes of quinoa seeds.
ResultsAfter treatments for 36, 60 and 84 h, the germination rate and bud length of quinoa seeds showed a trend of increasing at first and decreasing at last with the increase of PEG-6000 mass concentration, respectively reaching the highest rate at 0.10 g/mL and longest length at 0.15 g/mL. The content of free amino acids increased with the increase of PEG-6000 concentration. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased first and then decreased. The activity of SOD in germinated seeds was increased by 0.10 g/mL and 0.15 g/mL PEG-6000 treatment. The activity of peroxidase (POD) was the highest under 0.25 g/mL PEG-6000 treatment. The activity of catalase (CAT) was the highest under 0.15 g/mL PEG-6000 treatment. With the increase of PEG-6000 concentration, the content of α-amylase increased first and then decreased.
ConclusionPEG solution with appropriate mass concentration could promote quinoa seed germination. The drought condition could promote the content of free amino acid increasing in quinoa seeds, and promote POD activity as well.
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