Browsing by Autor "Bertero, Daniel"

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Climate links leaf shape variation and functional strategies in quinoa's wild ancestor.
(2025) Rodriguez, Jonatan; Quipildor, Vilma B; Giamminola, Eugenia M; Bramardi, Sergio J; Jarvis, David; Maughan, Jeff; Xu, Jiemeng; Farooq, Hafiz U; Ortega-Baes, Pablo; Jellen, Eric; Tester, Mark; Bertero, Daniel; Curti, Ramiro N
Understanding how leaf morphology mediates plant responses to environmental variability is critical for predicting species adaptability under climate change. This study examines whether intraspecific variation in leaf shape among Chenopodium hircinum populations is linked to physiological and functional trait differences and whether such variation reflects adaptive responses to source climate. We cultivated 11 populations of C. hircinum from diverse climatic origins in a common garden experiment. Leaf shape was quantified using descriptors (aspect ratio, circularity, solidity), landmarks, and Elliptical Fourier Descriptors. Physiological traits (stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, chlorophyll content) and functional traits (leaf area, leaf dry weight and leaf mass per area) were measured and analysed in relation to shape and environmental data. Leaf morphology varied significantly among populations and was associated with climatic conditions at origin, especially mean summer temperature. Functional and physiological traits were not directly correlated with environmental variables but showed strong associations with leaf shape. Landmark-based PC2 (lobed vs. rounded forms) and aspect ratio emerged as key predictors of trait variation. Most trait variation occurred at the individual level rather than among populations. Our findings highlight leaf shape as a central mediator linking environmental heterogeneity to physiological function. This suggests that morphology-driven trait integration may enhance adaptability in C. hircinum. Intraspecific diversity in shape and associated traits could serve as a reservoir of resilience under climate change, reinforcing the evolutionary and applied significance of wild relatives in crop improvement.
El presunto desastre ambiental y social de la quinua real: desarmar los clichés para reforzar la ética¹
(Tinkazos, 2015) Winkel, Thierry; Cruz, Pablo; Álvarez-Flores, Ricardo; Bertero, Daniel; Del Castillo, Carmen; Gasselin, Pierre; Joffre, Richard; Peredo Parada, Santiago; Sáez Tonacca, Luís; Vassas-Toral, Anaís; Vieira-Pak, Manuela
El auge de la quinua genera un vivo debate sobre sus impactos sociales y ecológicos en el altiplano sur de Bolivia, primer exportador mundial. Un análisis interdisciplinario permite poner en perspectiva los cambios ocurridos desde hace más de 40 años. Sin negar la necesidad de un apoyo a las dinámicas agrarias locales en torno a la quinua, se contestan aquellas afirmaciones que aseguran la insustentabilidad de la producción en el sur de Bolivia.
Variation in Thickness of Embryo Covering Structures and Their Role in the Regulation of Seed Physiological Dormancy of Chenopodium hircinum (Amaranthaceae).
(2024) Agüero-Martínez, Paola Fernanda; Cardozo, Leonardo; Gómez, Carlos A; López-Spahr, Diego; Baskin, Carol C; Bertero, Daniel; Galíndez, Guadalupe; Curti, Ramiro
Chenopodium hircinum, the putative wild ancestor of quinoa, is a source of traits that could improve the tolerance of crop quinoa to high temperatures. However, seeds of C. hircinum have physiological dormancy (PD), which is an obstacle for plant propagation and use in breeding programs. We studied the intraspecific variability in morpho-anatomical traits of embryo covering structures and their association with PD. We also evaluated the effects of different dormancy-breaking treatments on PD alleviation and germination. Seeds were dispersed with a remnant perianth and a persistent pericarp that could be removed by scraping. The seed coat was formed by palisade cells impregnated with tannins, and the seed contained a thin layer of peripheral endosperm surrounding the embryo. In our investigation, the thickness of the pericarp (P) and/or seed coat (SC) varied among populations. Populations with higher P and/or SC thickness showed lower percentages of germination and water absorption. The combined dormancy-breaking treatment (bleach + perforated coverings + gibberellic acid) promoted dormancy release and increased germination. C. hircinum seeds showed non-deep physiological dormancy. Based on previous knowledge about quinoa, and our results, we conclude that embryo coverings, especially the seed coat, have an important role in dormancy control, imposing a mechanical restraint on radicle emergence.