Responses of Quinoa to combined water and salt stress

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. Salt and drought stress in both years did not cause significant yield reduction, while the highest level of saline water resulted in higher mean seed weight and as a consequence the increase in fibre and total saponin content in quinoa seeds. Salt stress din not interfere with the yield and the development of Q52, instead, water stress reduced the growth parameters but the yield is save guarded. Q52 had shown a resistance to the stress through physiological mechanisms ABA productions, reduction of osmotic potential and control of stomatal closure. Quinoa accumulated salts in the different plant organs infact sodium increased with the increase of salinity in each part of the plant except in the seeds preserving the quality.