Fig. 7

Relative expression levels of low and high affinity nitrate transporters in root of C. quinoa plants grown at two levels of nitrate. Relative transcript levels of low (NPF6.3-like) (a) and high (HATS 2.1-like, (b) affinity nitrate transporters in roots of two landraces of C. quinoa seedlings grown at HN (20 mM NO₃⁻) and LN (0.5 mM of NO₃⁻) for 24 days. Total RNA prepared from root tissues was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The constitutively expressed EF1-α gene was used as endogenous control in order to normalize experimental results. Mean values ± SE (n = 3) are represented. Different letters show statistical differences using two-way ANOVA considering landraces and nitrate supply conditions as factors (Fisher LSD test; P < 0.05)