Mycorrhizal activity in quinoa genotypes in cerrado soil

Resumo

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has gained worldwide recognition as a pseudocereal with high nutritional value, with growing potential for human consumption and cultivation in various agricultural environments. Despite the crop's agronomic relevance, studies on its interaction with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), important symbionts that can contribute to nutrient use efficiency, stress tolerance, and crop sustainability, are still scarce. In this context, this study aimed to map the diversity and mycorrhizal activity associated with 20 quinoa varieties grown in Cerrado soil.

The experiment was conducted at the Embrapa Cerrados experimental site (Planaltina, DF), using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Soil and root samples were collected at flowering stages, and spore density, root colonization, and fungal genera were quantified.

Laboratory analyses were performed at the SEDMO Laboratory of the Evangelical College of Goianésia (FACEG) in Goianésia, Goiás, following standardized protocols for evaluating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

The results showed wide variation among varieties in spore density and colonization rate. Varieties CPAC9, CPAC12, CPAC13, and CPAC17 showed greater diversity and intensity of association with AMF, highlighting genera such as Rhizophagus, Glomus, Funneliformis, and Acaulospora. In contrast, genotypes such as CPAC11, CPAC20, and CPAC10 showed low colonization and limited fungal diversity.

The conclusion is that there is significant variability in the mycorrhizal association among quinoa genotypes, indicating potential for selection of varieties more responsive to symbiosis. These results provide insights for future sustainable crop management programs in the Cerrado, integrating AMF biodiversity into agricultural breeding and production.