Comparative studies of reproductive biology, seed morphology and anatomy of new salt tolerant accessions of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) introduced in Kur-Araz lowland (Azerbaijan)
Abstract
Investigated salt tolerant top-ranking accessions of Quinoa introduced on drought prone and salt affected soils with higher clay contents, water holding capacity, evapotranspiration and shallow water in Kur-Araz (Azerbaijan) undergone all ontogenetic reproductive (pollen grain productivity, embryo and fruit developmental stages) and produce viable seeds. The floral initiation stage varies between 66-77 days depending on genotype, plant height, days to flowering and to seed maturity, and dry weight biomass (p > 0.05). The interaction effect of location and genotypes was significant for days to flowering and seed maturity and dry weight, though not for plant height and seed yield. Three earlymiddle and late-flowering, and thus early-middle and late seed maturation clusters of quinoas was described. Quinoa is predominantly self-pollinating species, but pollination inside the inflorescence by means of wind (anemophilous) or with support of small insects (entomophilous) occurs. There was no significant difference in the fruit and seed morphology among investigated accessions of quinoa cultivated under new environments. Fruits of quinoa are simple, dry, indehiscent, achene, monosperm with white pericarp in the mature state and remainans of perigonium, albuminous white or yellowish seed 1.8-2.5 mm in diameter. In quinoa seeds the pericarp is very thin; as a result, the achene is also referred to as utricle.