Standardization of substrata and temperature regimes for germination testing in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Abstract

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an emerging climate-resilient pseudo cereal with high nutritional value and increasing cultivation potential in India. However, standardized laboratory germination protocols suitable for Indian seed testing laboratories are not yet well established. The present study was conducted during 2022–23 at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, to standardize appropriate substrata and temperature regimes for germination testing in quinoa. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Completely Randomized Design (FCRD) with five temperature regimes (20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, 20/25 °C alternate and 25/30 °C alternate) and three substrata (Top of Paper, Between Paper and Sand) with four replications of 100 seeds each. Observations on germination percentage, speed of germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling dry weight, Seedling Vigour Index–I and II were recorded as per ISTA procedures. Among temperature treatments, alternate temperature of 25/30 °C recorded significantly higher germination (78.20%), seedling length (15.16 cm), seedling dry weight (19.98 mg), SVI-I (1185) and SVI-II (1562). Between Paper method was superior among substrata with 82.50% germination and higher vigour indices. Interaction effects revealed that BP at 25/30 °C was the most suitable combination (88.4% germination). Hence, germination testing in quinoa may be standardized at 25/30 °C using the Between Paper method for reliable seed quality evaluation under Indian conditions.