National Agricultural research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.), Larissa, Greece Preliminary Research on Seed Production and Nutrient Content for Certain Quinoa Varieties in a Saline–Sodic Soil Th. Karyotis, C. Iliadis, Ch. Noulas and Th. Mitsibonas AuthorsÕ address: Dr C. Iliadis, Fodder Crops and Pastures Institute 41110, Larissa, Greece; Dr Th. Karyotis (corresponding author; e-mail: karyotis@hellasnet.gr); Dr Ch. Noulas and, Th. Mitsibonas, Institute for Soil Mapping and Classification 41335, Larissa, Greece With 4 tables Received February 27, 2003; accepted June 5, 2003 Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare the potential seed yield of eight quinoa varieties, to explore their mineral composition of seeds and to identify superior varieties in two locations with different soil properties. Compared with neutral soil conditions, seed yield in the marginal (saline– sodic) soil was decreased by 45 %. Under the latter soil conditions seed yield was negatively correlated with crop density, indicating that a considerable yield loss was due to poor and uneven plant density caused by adverse soil properties. Among the varieties, ÔRU–5–PQCIP–DAN- IDA–UNAÕ produced the highest seed yield (>20 dt ha )1 ) when grown under neutral soil conditions. Under marginal conditions, the above-mentioned variety and ÔN 407Õ produced seed yields up to 10 dt ha )1 whereas the rest reached yields of only about 5 dt ha )1 . The majority of the varieties accumulated significantly more protein (20 %) in the seeds under saline–sodic soil conditions (lower yielding environment). The varieties originated from South America were superior in accumulating protein in the seeds at both locations. Mineral contents of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) in the seeds were significantly higher in the neutral soil. No differences were found for phosphorous (P), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and boron (B) between the two locations. The South American varieties were again superior in mineral composition. Adaptation of certain quinoa varieties even under marginal environments seems promising for seed production and/or protein and mineral content in the seeds. Agronomic data are needed in a due course, over a higher number of locations and/or various climatic conditions. Key words: neutral — protein — quinoa — seed nutrients — seed yield — saline–sodic soil Introduction Quinoa(Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)hasreceiveda lot of research attention due to its industrial and nutritive characteristics in regions outside South America (National Research Council 1989). In Europe quinoa was introduced in England in the 1970sandlaterresearchprojectsfocusedonquinoa seedproductionforhumansand/orasafoddercrop under temperate conditions (Jacobsen and Stølen 1993, Jacobsen et al. 1994). Greece is among the countries, which showed interest for quinoa and is participatingintheAmericanandEuropeanTestof Quinoa organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Quinoa Project CIP–DAN- IDA. Research formerly focused on the adaptation of quinoa to warm and dry climatic conditions and totheeffectofplantdensityonseedyield(Karyotis et al. 1996, Iliadis et al. 1997). Promising cultivars from different agro ecological regions were also evaluated for their seed yield potential (Iliadis and Karyotis 1999). As far as the nutritional value is concerned, quinoa is superior to indigenous cereals (White et al. 1955). Although the complex photo- periodic response affects seed growth (Bertero et al. 1999), quinoa thrives from sandy to loamy soils under a wide range of pH (4.8–8.5). Moreover, quinoaistoleranttosalinesoilsandcanbeirrigated withwaterrichinsalts(Garcia1991,Jacobsenetal. 1999). Salinity and alkalinity influences the produc- tivity of many agricultural crops, although little is known about quinoa adaptation and potential seed yield and mineral composition under specific Medi- terranean soil environments. The soils under con- sideration cover more than 25 % of the cultivated area in Central Greece and some of them are characterized by marginal soil (saline–sodic) prop- erties. Soil salinization is going to be an increasing problem especially in arid or semiarid Mediterra- nean regions where crop yield relies on irrigation. The present study was undertaken to evaluate eight J. Agronomy & Crop Science 189, 402—408 (2003) Ó 2003 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin ISSN 0931-2250 U.S. Copyright Clearance Centre Code Statement: 0931–2250/2003/8906–0402 $15.00/0 www.blackwell.de/synergy