Background Several studies have shown that grain amaranth (Amaranthus spp) is tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. Irrigation applied only during sensitive growth stages can stabilize yield and improve water use efficiency. Given the increasing frequency of salinity and drought stress in European Countries and the scarcity of information on grain amaranth responses to the combined salt and drought stress, an open field trial was carried out in Italy in order to evaluate the response of one accession of Amaranthus hypochondriacus to different irrigation strategies. Results Grain amaranth yield components were not negatively affected neither by different irrigation volumes nor by irrigation time. Some differences in seeds yield were caused by water quality; salinity has significantly reduced seed yield. The combined effect of irrigation time and irrigation volume significantly influenced seed yield. The quality of amaranth seeds has being preserved; no significant differences due to simple or combined stresses were found during the three years field experiment. Conclusion The overall results from this study suggest that Amaranth hypochondriacus can be cultivated in a more sustainable way compared to other protein crops, thus reducing water amounts and using saline water. It could be introduced to marginal European environments where traditional crops cannot be cultivated

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is one of the most popular emerging food crops in the Andean region. It is tolerant to environmental stresses and characterized by interesting nutritional traits. Thus, it has the potential to contribute to food and nutrition security in marginal environments. In this study, we conducted a systematic review integrated with a bibliometric analysis of cropping practices of quinoa under field conditions. The analysis is based on published data from the literature relating to the period 2000-2020. A total of 33 publications were identified, revealing that scientific research on the agronomic practices and performances of quinoa under field conditions is still limited. Africa, Asia, and Europe were the leading research production sites in this field and together provided over 81% of the total scientific production. There were no papers from the Australian continent. The number of papers screened dealing with tillage and weed control management was very limited. The keyword co-occurrence network analyses revealed that the main topics addressed in the scientific literature related to the effect of "variety" and "deficit irrigation", followed by "water quality", "fertilization", and "sowing date" on seed yield. Results from this study will permit us to identify knowledge gaps and limited collaboration among authors and institutions from different countries. Salinity, sowing density, and sowing date were the agronomic interventions affecting productive response the most.

At present high-quality protein-rich food sources are increasing to offer a sustainable alternative for the growing world population demand. Plant protein production favors biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and human health. The production of plant proteins is more cost-effective and resource-efficient compared to meat proteins since they are less exigent in terms of natural resources (nitrogen, water, etc.). The natural nitrogen fixation of legumes enriches soils and benefits cropping systems. Reducing red meat consumption and increasing consumption of protein from other sources could also increase health benefits. In this chapter we analyze the production and use of protein crops for human consumption and review their sustainability under Northern and Southern European environments.

BACKGROUND Grass pea (Laithyrus sativus L.) is a rustic plant whose seeds are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, and it has been consumed as food by human beings since ancient times. This study was conducted in Italy between 2017and 2019 to evaluate under field conditions, the stability of seed yield, biomass and 1000 seed weight (THS) and to assess the antioxidant composition and activity of eleven grass pea accessions. RESULTS The analysis of variance revealed significant effects of the environment, accession and accession x environment (A×E) on the yield, above-ground biomass and the THS. We found that the environment (year) and A×E explained 52.61% and 23.76 % of the total seed yield variation, respectively. No relationship was observed between the yield and the total protein of seeds. Most grass pea accessions showed sensitivity to frost conditions that occurred in the third growing season. The total phenolic content ranged from 50.51 to 112.78 mg/100 g of seeds and the antioxidant activity ranged from 0.576 to 0.898 mmol TE/100 g of seeds and from 0.91 to 1.6 mmol Fe²? /100 g of seeds in ABTS and FRAP, respectively. Among the accessions, the "Campi Flegrei" and "di Castelcività" showed the best performance with the highest yield and stability, phenolic content and superior antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION The results showed that the yield of grass pea was mainly influenced by different climate conditions. This variability in yield, phenolic content and antioxidant activity among different accessions could help breeders and farmers select high-performance accessions for cultivation

Protein crops can represent a sustainable answer to growing demand for high quality, protein-rich food in Europe. To better understand the state of scientific studies on protein crops, a systematic review of field trials results to collect existing knowledge and agronomic practices on protein crops in European countries was conducted using published data from the literature (1985-2017). A total of 42 publications was identified. The following seven protein crops were considered: quinoa, amaranth, pea, faba bean, lupin, chickpea, and lentil. Observations within the studies were related to one or more of eight wide categories of agronomic managements: deficit irrigation (n = 130), salinity (n = 6), tillage (n = 211), fertilizers (n = 146), sowing density (n = 32), sowing date (n = 92), weed control (n = 71), and multiple interventions (n = 129). In 86% of the studies, measures of variability for yield mean values are missing. Through a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) based on protein crops, European environments, and agronomic management factors, we provide a state of art of studies carried out in Europe on protein crops over the 32-year period; this study will allow us to understand the aspects that can still be developed in the topic. Most investigated studies refer to southern Europe and showed some trends: (i) faba bean, pea, and lupin provide highest seed yields; (ii) sowing date, sowing density, fertilization, and deficit irrigation are the agronomic practices that most influence crop yield; (iii) studies conducted in Central Europe show highest seed yields. The output from this study can be used to guide policies for sustainable crop management.

The answer to future global food challenges may well come from the past. Since the 1960's, diets in many Western countries have relied heavily on meat. But with global food demand soars set to soar by 70 percent by 2050, other sources of high-quality proteins are needed. The answer could be found in plants such as quinoa and amaranth, which were already known to the Maya and Inca civilisations and are now back in style. Futuris went to Italy, where researchers at the National Research Centre (CNR) are studying these ancient crops as part of the EU-funded 'PROTEIN2FOOD' project. The project aims to develop high-quality food protein from several kind of seed crops (such as quinoa and amaranth), grain legumes (lupin, faba bean and lentils), using a multi-disciplinary approach involving genetics, agronomy, and food-processing engineering. One of its main goals is to accelerate consumers' shift from animal-based proteins to plant-based proteins. We travelled to Italy to visit an experimental farm near Caserta as well as a bio-laboratory in Ercolano, both run by the CNR. We also met a cook in a restaurant to see how to make these grains appealing for consumers. Full of nutrients "Quinoa and amaranth proteins contain all essential amino acids, so even if they have a lower protein level than leguminous plants, they have a higher nutritional quality," says Cataldo Pulvento, researcher at the CNR-ISAFOM. In Italy and in the other countries part of the 'PROTEIN2FOOD' project - a consortium of 19 partners ranging from breeders to farmers, food producers and product manufacturers from 13 different countries (11 from the EU, plus Peru and Uganda) - researchers are testing various crops to see which ones are best suited to specific soils and weather conditions. "Quinoa and amaranth tolerate abiotic stress quite well. In the south of Europe the main types of abiotic stresses are water shortage and salinity," says Pulvento.The goal of these 'stress-tests' is to reach the best crop yield using as little water as possible. One of the key advantages of plant-based proteins is that growing them is much less harmful to the planet than intensive meat production."We can eat meat, it tastes good, but it's very costly considering the land we have to use to produce the plants needed to feed the animals. And then we have a huge consumption of water for every kilogram of meat (produced), which is around ten times higher than for the plants," says Sven-Erik Jacobsen, professor at the University of Copenhagen and Protein2Food project coordinator. From farm to fork At the CNR in Ercolano, not far from Naples, scientists are leading in-depth 3D analyses to study how seeds respond to these stress tests. "For the farmer it's important to be sure to cultivate a plant that has a good yield for his business. We also study the seed's various components, each of which has properties that can be attractive to consumers," says researcher Giacomo Mele. The Protein2Food project aims to increase by 10 percent Europe's arable land destined to protein-crop production, and enhance the protein production by 25 percent through new effective breeding techniques and optimised crop management. As the project covers the entire food supply chain - from farm to fork - it also explores how these seeds and grain legumes can be cooked and appeal to consumers. "The main problem is that people don't know much about quinoa, but if we combine it with other legumes, it can be a great ingredient to make high-quality soup, for instance," says Raffaele Ingico, chef at the restaurant Giòsole in Capua. Scientists leading the project say that if our consumption shifted from animal-based to plant-based proteins, it would bring down our carbon footprint while improving both biodiversity and human health. "Our diet will be much more diverse, soil fertility will improve. We can say: it's only benefits," says Prof. Jacobsen.

Presentazione in Convegno di nuovi ordinamenti colturali in aree marginali della Regione Campania. Vengono presentate alcune proposte per l'introduzione di nuove colture ad alto reddito come la quinoa e la canapa e l'amaranto, colture gluten free ed a basso impatto ambientali per coniugare redditi e salvaguardia dell'ambiente.

[object Object]Chenopodium quinoa Willd., a high quality grain crop, is resistant to abiotic stresses (drought, cold, and salt) and offers an optimal source of protein. Quinoa represents a symbol of crop genetic diversity across the Andean region. In recent years, this crop has undergone a major expansion outside its countries of origin. The activities carried out within the framework of the International Year of Quinoa provided a great contribution to raise awareness on the multiple benefits of quinoa as well as to its wider cultivation at the global level. FAO is actively involved in promoting and evaluating the cultivation of quinoa in 26 countries outside the Andean region with the aim to strengthen food and nutrition security. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the adaptability of selected quinoa genotypes under different environments outside the Andean region. This paper presents the preliminary results from nine countries. Field evaluations were conducted during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), and the Near East and North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Mauritania, and Yemen). In each country, the trials were carried out in different locations that globally represent the diversity of 19 agrarian systems under different agro-ecological conditions. Twenty-one genotypes of quinoa were tested using the same experimental protocol in all locations consisting in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Some genotypes showed higher yields and the Q18 and Q12 landraces displayed greater adaptation than others to new environmental conditions. The Q21 and Q26 landraces were evaluated with stable and satisfactory levels of yield (> 1 t.ha-1) in each of the different trial sites. This production stability is of considerable importance especially under climate change uncertainty. While these results suggest that this Andean crop is able to grow in many different environments, social, and cultural considerations remain crucial regarding its possible introduction as a staple food in new cropping systems around the world.

The term saponin comes from the Latin word sapo, meaning "soap", reflecting a readiness to form stable soap-like foams in aqueous solutions. The biological role of saponins is not completely understood, but they are generally considered to be part of a plant's defence system against pathogens and herbivores, particularly because of their bitter flavour. Saponins comprise aglycones and sugar, each representing about 50% of the total weight of the molecule. In quinoa, saponins are a complex mixture of triterpene glycosides that derive from seven aglycones: oleanolic acid, hederagenin, phytolaccagenic acid, serjanic acid, 3?-hydroxy-23-oxo-olean-12-en-28- oic acid, 3?-hydroxy-27-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid and 3?,23?,30?-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, while the most common sugars are arabinose, glucose and galactose. Saponins are traditionally considered very antinutritional because of their haemolytic activity, and there is therefore a longstanding controversy about their functions in food. It is believed that saponins can form complexes with membrane sterols of the erythrocyte, causing an increase in permeability and a subsequent loss of haemoglobin. However, recent extensive studies of the biological activity of saponins in vitro and in vivo have identified associations with several health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral effects. Saponins are also of interest as valuable adjuvants and the first saponin-based vaccines have been introduced commercially. Traditionally, quinoa seeds are either abraded mechanically to remove the bran - which is where the saponins are predominantly located - or washed with water to remove bitterness prior to use. During washing, valuable nutrients are lost and the chemical composition and amino acid profiles of quinoa seeds can be altered. Following treatment, the level of saponin content in to-be-consumed quinoa seeds remains a major concern in terms of bitterness and possible negative biological effects. A mathematical model based on Fick's second law has been created to optimize the leaching process of saponins from quinoa seeds during washing with water. Many studies have focused on the effects of agronomic variables (e.g. irrigation and salinity) on the saponin profiles of quinoa. It has been observed that saponins decrease in samples that have been exposed to drought and saline regimes - suggesting that irrigation and salinity may regulate the saponin content in quinoa and affect its nutritional and industrial values. Studies are underway to evaluate and compare the saponin content in seven varieties of quinoa grown in Italy and six varieties grown in Chile under rainfed or low irrigation conditions. Seeds from the more arid or stressing Chilean localities have a higher saponin content.

An increasing number of studies have been performed in recent years in Italy on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). Interest in this Andean seed crop is mainly due to its resistance to the abiotic stresses affecting Mediterranean agro-ecosystems, in particular drought and salinity, and to the high nutritional value of its seeds. The principal research activities in Italy currently focus on the agronomic, biological and nutritional aspects of quinoa. Several field trials were carried out at CNR-ISAFoM in Ercolano (Napoli) to evaluate, in terms of growth, yield and physiological aspects, the adaptability of quinoa to Italian pedoclimatic conditions, and the crop's response to different agronomic management practices. Post-harvest chemical and product analyses were also performed to evaluate seed quality and aptitude for food processing. Quinoa's tolerance to salinity stress was investigated under controlled environmental conditions at the University of Bologna, where morphological and metabolic responses were analysed. All of these studies were conducted within national and international research projects with the collaboration of foreign research centres (CEAZA, Chile) and universities (University of Copenhagen), mainly using plant material selected in Denmark or sourced from the Andean region. This chapter describes the results of the main research activities carried out in the last decade by Italian institutions and discusses the potential for the introduction

Per l'intera durata del progetto ampia attività di divulgazione e informazione è stata condotta dal partenariato Quina Felix costantemente impegnato a divulgare i risultati conseguiti attraverso ogni possibile canale di comunicazione in una regia integrata e sinergica tesa a coniugare le competenze tecniche e scientifiche da una parte, con le competenze della comunicazione e dell'informazione dall'altra. Il progetto avviato nel giugno 2012 ha visto la realizzazione di diverse azioni finalizzate a far conoscere gli obiettivi, le finalità e i risultati ottenuti dai differenti attori del partenariato. Inoltre grazie all'emergenza di risultati interessanti dalle attività di campo e di laboratorio, sono state realizzate diverse iniziative volte alla loro diffusione e trasferimento. Le attività d'informazione del progetto e dei suoi risultati, organizzate in stretta collaborazione con le Associazioni di Categoria e le Istituzioni Regionali e locali, sono state rivolte a una platea di addetti ai lavori, e non solo: operatori del settore cerealicolo, associazioni di produttori, ma anche trasformatori, PMI, artigiani, Istituzioni, utenti finali (commercianti e consumatori).

Le attività previste dal progetto "Introduzione della quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa willd.) in Campania per la produzione di alimenti a valenza funzionale ed elevato valore nutrizionale - QuinoaFelix" sono state avviate il 15 giugno 2012 e concluse il 30 giugno 2015. Il progetto ha avuto come scopi principali l'introduzione della quinoa, pseudocereale privo di glutine, negli ordinamenti colturali campani e la messa a punto di prodotti funzionali a valenza funzionale/salutistica.

The chlorophyll camera app captures and processes images from an Android phone and instantly computes the chlorophyll content of the leaves throughout the RGB components based on the stud Digital images taken in the field typically exhibit variation due to ambient lighting, shadows so the leaves should be photographed under identical illuminative conditions between 11:00 and 12:00 solar time in absence of clouds. Without detaching from the plant, leaves were hand flattened by pressing them on a white graduated support plane covered with a transparent sheet, to allow easy leaf pixels capture at the same focal distance. The light source, the angle and distance between light and leaf should be as much as possible constant. All data are logged and geo-referenced, and can be emailed to your PC for further analysis. You can vary area for which will be calculated the average RGB components. It is also possible to mediate the RGB values from different leaves. For chlorophyll estimation it is used an RGB multiple regression model that can be selected for different specie and manually modified for a specie not reported in the database.

Grain amaranth is an underutilized Andean crop characterized by interesting agronomic and qualitative traits and could represent an important food source in areas with salinity and drought problems like the Mediterranean region. Knowledge of crop growth parameters allows us to parameterize simulation models that are useful tools to study the adaptability of a crop to different environmental and management conditions. In this study, the SALTMED model has been parameterized, calibrated and evaluated for grain amaranth under Mediterranean conditions, with data from a field trial conducted during 2009-2010 in South Italy. The model evaluation was made using seed yield, dry matter and soil moisture data of amaranth irrigated with saline and fresh water. The simulation results showed a high degree of precision of SALTMED in the simulation of the hydrological processes at different soil depths, crop yield and dry matter under different agricultural practices. SALTMED can be used as a useful tool to optimize grain amaranth production in the Mediterranean region.

The aim of the present work was to study the adaptability of amaranth in a typical Mediterranean environment of South Italy under changing climate scenarios. In a first stage, experimental data from a field trial conducted during 2009-2010 on the Volturno River Plain (Italy) with grain amaranth grown under different irrigation strategies, were used to define the thermal requirements and the yield response function to soil water availability of amaranth. The observed soil moisture data were used to calculate the relative soil water deficit (RSWD) index and seed yield data were expressed as relative yield (Yr). Yr and RSWD calculated data were then graphically correlated to obtain the amaranth yield response function to soil water availability. In a second stage the SALTMED model was used to simulate impacts of present, past and future climate scenarios on amaranth growth cycle and yield. Climate-change scenarios (Special Report on Emission Scenarios A1B, A2 and B1) data, used as input in the model, were derived from six global circulation models using a weather generator. The results showed that in a changing climate, temperature affects the relative duration of the growth cycle and could be a critical determinant of grain yield. The use of supplemental irrigations could allow the amaranth to guarantee a high seed yield under Mediterranean conditions.

Yield responses of a grain amaranth accession to different irrigation strategies were evaluated in Naples, Italy. Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative response of amaranth under combined abiotic stresses (salinity and drought) in a Mediterranean environment of South Italy affected by problems due to groundwater salinization from seawater intrusion. A comparison was made in 2009 and 2010 between a fully irrigated treatment (1·00), with the restitution of all of the water necessary to replenish to field capacity the soil layer explored by roots (0·00-0·36 m), and two treatments with restitution of 0·50 and 0·25 of the water volume used for the fully irrigated treatment. The three levels of irrigation volume were combined with two levels of salinity, either fresh or salt water, with electrical conductivity (EC) of the irrigation water of 0·64 and 22 dS/m respectively, in a factorial experiment thus harbouring six treatments in a randomized complete block design. The results showed good adaptation of amaranth to drought. It was possible to obtain high yields even if groundwater with infiltrated seawater was used for irrigation (50% yield reduction when the EC of soil saturated paste extract (ECe) was 13·97 dS/m). A reduction of 50% in the volume of irrigation did not cause a significant reduction in yield, whether using fresh or saline water, compared to the treatment fully irrigated with fresh water. The chemical composition of amaranth seeds, however, was significantly affected by the treatments. Starch and ash content decreased with increasing drought while protein content was increased by both salt and drought. In view of the increased presence of salinity and drought stress in the Mediterranean area and the scarce information on amaranth response to salt and water stress, the aim of the present work is evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative response of amaranth grown in a Mediterranean environment of South Italy under combined drought and salinity stress.

The growth of the world population is expected to increase in the next forty years to reach 9 billion people in 2050. This will result in a dramatic increase in demand for food with the consequence of generating a strong competition in the use of agricultural resources, especially soil and water that will be used in a more efficient and sustainable . Currently, agriculture uses 70 % of the water resource but to meet the population growth will be necessary to increase agricultural production by 30% or increased use of water for irrigation or improving its efficiency in terms of production. Moreover, whereas the ongoing climate change will have a major impact on the regular supply of water resource in vast areas of the planet to support agricultural production option will no longer be postponed to use water in agriculture also not good quality and saline waste. In this new scenario for some time now we are studying new cropping systems that use irrigation water with a high salt content, or using species with low water requirements. In the last 15 year several crop were tested in Southern Italy to know their sustainable use to saline irrigation, some typical of this area as pepper, and melon, some industrial crop as sunflower and hemp and more recently innovative crop as quinoa and amaranths. Irrigation with saline water (I1 treatment) resulted in values of electrical conductivity (Ece) in the surface layer of soil that has changed over the years in relation to rainfall and evapotranspiration. The lowest value (5 dS/m-1) was recorded in 1998 while the highest (about 10 dS/m-1) in 2013. In relation to electrical conductivity of the soil crops showed a very different behavior in both physiological and productive aspects. At low values of Ece crops that resulted well adapted to saline irrigation was sunflower that for its ability to limit transpiration and capacity to sustain a good cellular turgor maintained good photosynthetic performances. The production has been slightly reduced for sunflower (-15%) in I1 compared to the control treatment (I0). Sharp reduction was observed for hemp (-35%). The pepper and melon instead have had less adaptability to irrigation with saline water with strong reductions in production (-50% ) in the treatment I1. Among the more recently introduced innovative crops in the agricultural cropping system quinoa in the irrigated treatment T1 with high saline water (ECW dS/m-1 = 22) and in the presence of very high levels of Ece in the soil (9.8 dS/m-1) showed no loss of production, confirming its great adaptability to cultivation in marginal land.

The growth of the world population is expected to increase in the next forty years to reach 9 billion people in 2050. This will result in a dramatic increase in demand for food with the consequence of generating a strong competition in the use of agricultural resources, especially soil and water that will be used in a more efficient and sustainable . Currently, agriculture uses 70 % of the water resource but to meet the population growth will be necessary to increase agricultural production by 30% or increased use of water for irrigation or improving its efficiency in terms of production. Moreover, whereas the ongoing climate change will have a major impact on the regular supply of water resource in vast areas of the planet to support agricultural production option will no longer be postponed to use water in agriculture also not good quality and saline waste. In this new scenario for some time now we are studying new cropping systems that use irrigation water with a high salt content, or using species with low water requirements. In the last 15 year several crop were tested in Southern Italy to know their sustainable use to saline irrigation, some typical of this area as pepper, and melon, some industrial crop as sunflower and hemp and more recently innovative crop as quinoa and amaranths. Irrigation with saline water (I1 treatment) resulted in values of electrical conductivity (Ece) in the surface layer of soil that has changed over the years in relation to rainfall and evapotranspiration. The lowest value (5 dS/m-1) was recorded in 1998 while the highest (about 10 dS/m-1) in 2013. In relation to electrical conductivity of the soil crops showed a very different behavior in both physiological and productive aspects. At low values of Ece crops that resulted well adapted to saline irrigation were sunflower and hemp that for their ability to limit transpiration and capacity to sustain a good cellular turgor maintained good photosynthetic performances. The production has been slightly reduced for sunflower (-15%) and sharp for hemp (-35%) in both crops in I1 compared to the control treatment (I0). The pepper and melon instead have had less adaptability to irrigation with saline water with strong reductions in production (-50% ) in the treatment I1. Among the more recently introduced innovative crops in the agricultural cropping system quinoa in the irrigated treatment T1 with high saline water (ECW dS/m-1 = 22) and in the presence of very high levels of Ece in the soil (9.8 dS/m-1) showed no loss of production, confirming its great adaptability to cultivation in marginal land.

The climate of Mediterranean region will become drier and hotter, with increased problems of soil salinity. A possible alternative to minimize the effects of climate change is to introduce species with better tolerance to salt and drought stresses. One of the options is quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), which was grown in field trials in several Mediterranean countries, to study the effects of drought and salinity on yield and other characters. Drought stress during the vegetative growth stage leads to deep root development, and without stress conditions for the rest of the growing season allowed the plant to be able to optimize its photosynthesis and carbon translocation. Stress during seed filling recorded the lowest yields. The influence of organic matter on yield was more important under deficit irrigation than under full irrigation. The interaction between relative water content and leaf water potential indicated that regulating cellular water deficit and volume is a powerful mechanism for conserving cellular hydration under drought. In all climatic conditions, drought and use of irrigation water with salinity up to 30 dS m 1 caused slightly reduced yield as compared to full irrigation with fresh water. Highest values of water conductivity resulted in higher seed weight, and as a consequence, an increase in fibre and total saponin content, and a small decrease in free phenolic compounds in quinoa seeds. The yield increase in quinoa accessions was less at the highest level of nitrogen application, that is, 200 mg kg 1 soil, compared with other levels of nitrogen application, that is, 50, 100 and 150 mg kg 1 soil.

Drought and salinity are the most important abiotic stresses that affect plant's growth and productivity. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of salt and water deficit on water relations, growth parameters and capacity to accumulate inorganic solutes in uinoa plants. An irrigation experiment was carried out in 2009 and 2010 in the Volturno river plain. Three treatments irrigated with fresh water (Q100, Q50 and Q25) and three irrigated with saline water (Q100S, Q50S and Q25S) were tested. For saline irrigation, water with an electrical conductivity of 22 dS m 1 was used. Actual evapotranspiration (ETa), water productivity (WP), biomass allocation, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), specific leaf area, leaf area ratio and ions accumulation of quinoa plants were evaluated. WP and plant growth were not influenced by saline irrigation, as quinoa plants incorporated salt ions in the tissues (stems, roots, leaves) preserving seed quality. Treatment with a reduction in the irrigation water to 25 % of full irrigated treatment (Q25) caused an increase in WP and a reduced dry matter accumulation in the leaves. Quinoa plants (Q25) were initially negatively affected by severe drought with RGR and NAR reduction, and then, they adapted to it. Quinoa could be considered a drought tolerant crop that adapt photosynthetic rate to compensate for a reduced growth.