University of Tehran perss Journal of Crops Improvement 2008-8337 28 2 2026 06 22 Evaluation of the allelopathic effects of saponin and quinoa residues on germination and development of wheat under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions Evaluation of the allelopathic effects of saponin and quinoa residues on germination and development of wheat under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions 223 240 106855 10.22059/jci.2026.399375.2943 FA Mansour Shakeri Department of Agronomy, May.C., Islamic Azad University, Maybod, Iran. 0009-0000-4756-7627 | Hossein Shamsi Mahmoodabadi Department of Agronomy, May.C., Islamic Azad University, Maybod, Iran. 0000-0001-7112-1676 Masoumeh Salehi National Salinity Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization. (AREEO) , Yazd, Iran 0000-0003-3805-7072 Mohammad Ali Baghestani Meybodi Central Organization of Islamic Azad University. Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-3215-6988 Journal Article 2025 07 25 Objective: Given the progressive salinization of water and soil resources in most plains of the country, the cultivation area of quinoa is expected to expand. Since wheat is typically grown in rotation after quinoa, investigating the allelopathic effects of quinoa residues on wheat germination, performance, and other morphophysiological traits is essential and constitutes the primary aim of this research. Methods: The study was conducted in 2021 and 2022 at the National Salinity Research Center (Yazd) through four experiments under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Germination factorial experiments followed a completely randomized design with two factors and three replications in both the laboratory and growth chamber. Germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, percentage of normal seedlings, stem and root length, and seed vigor were the key parameters measured and analyzed. Additionally, factorial experiments on the effects of saponin and quinoa residues on wheat growth indices were arranged in a randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications under greenhouse and field conditions. Leaf area index (LAI), number of panicles per m², number of grains per panicle, grain yield, 1000-seed weight, dry weight, plant height, and harvest index were the principal traits measured and statistically analyzed. To distinguish the effects of osmotic pressure from those of allelochemicals in the extract solutions, a control treatment using polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG) was included. Results: The inhibitory effects of extracts and powders of saponin and quinoa residues were significant at the 1% probability level for most traits examined in wheat germination and growth experiments under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Treatment concentration also significantly affected all traits, with higher concentrations leading to greater inhibitory effects. The interaction between plant part and concentration was similarly significant at the 1% probability level. The inhibitory effects of saponin and different quinoa organs on wheat were weaker for most growth traits evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions compared to the germination results in the laboratory. Furthermore, abnormalities were observed in a number of germinated wheat seeds, with more severe symptoms occurring under saponin extract treatment. Conclusion: These results confirm the allelopathic properties of quinoa saponin and residues on wheat. Therefore, if wheat is cultivated in rotation after quinoa, quinoa residues could significantly inhibit wheat germination and growth, thereby reducing grain and straw yield. Objective: Given the progressive salinization of water and soil resources in most plains of the country, the cultivation area of quinoa is expected to expand. Since wheat is typically grown in rotation after quinoa, investigating the allelopathic effects of quinoa residues on wheat germination, performance, and other morphophysiological traits is essential and constitutes the primary aim of this research. Methods: The study was conducted in 2021 and 2022 at the National Salinity Research Center (Yazd) through four experiments under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Germination factorial experiments followed a completely randomized design with two factors and three replications in both the laboratory and growth chamber. Germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, percentage of normal seedlings, stem and root length, and seed vigor were the key parameters measured and analyzed. Additionally, factorial experiments on the effects of saponin and quinoa residues on wheat growth indices were arranged in a randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications under greenhouse and field conditions. Leaf area index (LAI), number of panicles per m², number of grains per panicle, grain yield, 1000-seed weight, dry weight, plant height, and harvest index were the principal traits measured and statistically analyzed. To distinguish the effects of osmotic pressure from those of allelochemicals in the extract solutions, a control treatment using polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG) was included. Results: The inhibitory effects of extracts and powders of saponin and quinoa residues were significant at the 1% probability level for most traits examined in wheat germination and growth experiments under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Treatment concentration also significantly affected all traits, with higher concentrations leading to greater inhibitory effects. The interaction between plant part and concentration was similarly significant at the 1% probability level. The inhibitory effects of saponin and different quinoa organs on wheat were weaker for most growth traits evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions compared to the germination results in the laboratory. Furthermore, abnormalities were observed in a number of germinated wheat seeds, with more severe symptoms occurring under saponin extract treatment. Conclusion: These results confirm the allelopathic properties of quinoa saponin and residues on wheat. Therefore, if wheat is cultivated in rotation after quinoa, quinoa residues could significantly inhibit wheat germination and growth, thereby reducing grain and straw yield.

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