The Effect of Kaolin and Fulvic Acid Antitranspirant Compounds on Some Traits of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) under Drought Stress Conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Iran.

2 Department of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22126/cbb.2026.13548.1133

Abstract

Introduction: Climate change and its impact on crop productivity have become one of the most significant environmental challenges. Drought, as an abiotic stress factor, can substantially disrupt plant molecular, biochemical, and physiological processes, affecting growth and yield. In today’s world, the use of antitranspirant substances to reduce the negative effects of various environmental stresses has been proposed. This experiment was designed with the aim of investigating the effects of drought stress on quinoa growth and yield, as well as the impact of antitranspirant foliar application during the growth and development period. These methods were employed to reduce the effects of drought stress.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted in two separate field and pot experiments at the research farm of Kurdistan University over two years (2021 and 2022) with spring planting (in June). The experiment was designed as a split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The investigated factors included four levels of drought stress: 1) full irrigation throughout the growth period, 2) 50% water deficit during the vegetative stage (vegetative stress), 3) 50% water deficit during the reproductive stage (reproductive stress), and 4) 50% water deficit throughout the entire growth period (full stress) as the main factor. The foliar application treatments included: 1) control (water spray), 2) 5% kaolin, 3) 2.5% kaolin, and 4) 5 g/L fulvic acid as the sub-factor. The traits of plant height, biological yield, thousand‑grain weight, grain yield, harvest index, water use efficiency, root length, and root dry weight were measured.
Results: Drought stress resulted in a reduction in all growth and performance traits, indicating limitations in physiological capacity and disruption of the source-sink balance. Under stress conditions, both fulvic acid and kaolin modulated responses, but they acted through different pathways; fulvic acid improved water use efficiency by stimulating growth and maintaining tissue hydration, while kaolin provided the highest root dry weight (2.28 grams) and biological yield by reducing surface evaporation and preserving structural stability. The relationship between root dry weight and grain yield showed that maintaining root structure plays a crucial role in sustaining production under drought conditions. Ultimately, the results suggest that quinoa’s response to stress is depended on the regulatory mechanisms of the treatments, with fulvic acid enhancing physiological adaptability and kaolin strengthening structural stability, both contributing to improved productivity and drought tolerance.
Conclusion: The combined findings indicate that the targeted use of these two antitranspirant compounds can harmonize the plant’s physiological and structural mechanisms against drought stress, leading to yield stability under water-deficit conditions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Cereal Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Volume 4, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
December 2025
Pages 520-547

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